I got to go home early is the last thing that I want to hear at a poker table!!! I am so tired of a man walking into the poker room and turning into a little pussy by stating he has to go home early because he has work tomorrow or some other faggoty excuse like I can't function on three hours of sleep. Why don't you just tell the truth, you have no balls and you want to leave with your stack that you think you will have at your projected time of 1am. GET A SET OF BALLS!!! If you think that "The Juice" would EVER say "I can't stay late because I got to get up in the morning" or the classic " I have to meet my boss for this important meeting" you don't understand the meaning of the word "Boss"!!! Boss in the "Juices" definintion is - DO WHAT YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT, WHERE YOU WANT, & WITH WHO YOU WANT & Play the game like a man!!! Or you can just think to yourself when you say at the table "I got to go home early" All the Men at this table think that I am a big fat PUSSY! No offence to the men who stayed till the well ran dry at 6AM Tuesday.
P.S. I think this Blogging thing is going to save my marriage!
"The Juice"
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Poker Tips - Hold 'em
The Importance of Player Position
I still see experienced players IGNORE their position. Everyone will tell you that the best possible position is on the dealer button. As the cards are dealt, you have no money in the pot and have the advantage of watching all of the betting action (except for the blinds) BEFORE you are required to make a decision on how you want to play your hand -or- IF you want to play your hand. It also effects the VALUE of your hand, for instance, let's say you are on the button and you have pocket eights. Before the action gets to you, there is a raise, a re-raise and an all-in. Depending on how well you know the players at the table, it probably becomes an easy lay down. From the button in an un-raised pot, you may want to raise the pot yourself with 5/6 suited. Just like in real estate, its LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
So where you sit relative to the button is very important..... also important is the seat at the table that you choose relative to the loose/aggressive players. This is not quite as clear.... While most seasoned players will tell you that they want that maniac to their right so that they don't commit any chips to the pot until after "he" acts.... there is also some support for the school of thought that you want him on your left so that you don't become the victim of someone else setting a trap for the maniac.... Now if you are unfortunate enough to be seated between two loose/aggressive players, I would recommend developing explosive diarrhea and excusing yourself from the game.
I definitely see the value of having some space between you and Mr. Aggressive so that when he raises the pot there are some callers between you and him so that you can re-raise big and perhaps pickup the dead money that called his raise but will go away when you raise.... or let's hope anyway. Because even pocket rockets are vulnerable to an entire table of callers.
So once again..... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
I still see experienced players IGNORE their position. Everyone will tell you that the best possible position is on the dealer button. As the cards are dealt, you have no money in the pot and have the advantage of watching all of the betting action (except for the blinds) BEFORE you are required to make a decision on how you want to play your hand -or- IF you want to play your hand. It also effects the VALUE of your hand, for instance, let's say you are on the button and you have pocket eights. Before the action gets to you, there is a raise, a re-raise and an all-in. Depending on how well you know the players at the table, it probably becomes an easy lay down. From the button in an un-raised pot, you may want to raise the pot yourself with 5/6 suited. Just like in real estate, its LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
So where you sit relative to the button is very important..... also important is the seat at the table that you choose relative to the loose/aggressive players. This is not quite as clear.... While most seasoned players will tell you that they want that maniac to their right so that they don't commit any chips to the pot until after "he" acts.... there is also some support for the school of thought that you want him on your left so that you don't become the victim of someone else setting a trap for the maniac.... Now if you are unfortunate enough to be seated between two loose/aggressive players, I would recommend developing explosive diarrhea and excusing yourself from the game.
I definitely see the value of having some space between you and Mr. Aggressive so that when he raises the pot there are some callers between you and him so that you can re-raise big and perhaps pickup the dead money that called his raise but will go away when you raise.... or let's hope anyway. Because even pocket rockets are vulnerable to an entire table of callers.
So once again..... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
The Value of Acting First
We all know poker is a game of position. The later the position, the more information you have to make decisions. This is a good thing.
But, what is rarely discussed are the advantages of being in an early position. Sure, you don't have as much information, but you can initiate action. This can be more valuable than you may think.
Let's take a look at a hand last night:
It's 4 am and its nearing the end of the session. We are playing 3 handed (2/4 NLHE), and everyone has $400+ in front of them.
Dean (imagine Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace) has the button and The Juice and I have S, B blinds respectively. Dean limps, Juice limps and I look at A,3. Normally 3 handed any Ace is a raising hand, but I just check.
The flop comes A, 5, 3 rainbow. Nice flop for me, but there is some danger of a straight (especially considering everyone limped). The Juice bets out $15, I make it $50, Dean calls and The Juice goes all in.
So what can he have? Knowing Juice it could be anything from two pair 3s and 5s to gutshot draw or a 5 alone. I can't put him on a set, or an ace since he would have raised preflop if that was the case. I go all-in as well, casting a wary eye on Dean ( a pretty tight player, but willing to take a flyer on occassion). He ponders for a long minute or two. He announces he has top two pair, and puts me on a set. He turns them over and folds. Long sigh of release from me.
The Juice turns over a pure bluff (9,6 right Juice?) and I win a nice pot.
In this case Dean was a victim of too much information. He had two all ins in front of him.With this 'info' he folds (I am certainly open the idea he should have called anyway).
I benefited from knowing the player ahead of me (juice-super aggressive) and Dean (extremely tight). However if I had the button, and The Juice goes all in, AND THEN Dean goes all in, I have to know I am beat. But by acting before the person with the better hand (but by no means the nut hand) I was able to pull the pot, and leave Dean shaking his head at his no call.
But, what is rarely discussed are the advantages of being in an early position. Sure, you don't have as much information, but you can initiate action. This can be more valuable than you may think.
Let's take a look at a hand last night:
It's 4 am and its nearing the end of the session. We are playing 3 handed (2/4 NLHE), and everyone has $400+ in front of them.
Dean (imagine Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace) has the button and The Juice and I have S, B blinds respectively. Dean limps, Juice limps and I look at A,3. Normally 3 handed any Ace is a raising hand, but I just check.
The flop comes A, 5, 3 rainbow. Nice flop for me, but there is some danger of a straight (especially considering everyone limped). The Juice bets out $15, I make it $50, Dean calls and The Juice goes all in.
So what can he have? Knowing Juice it could be anything from two pair 3s and 5s to gutshot draw or a 5 alone. I can't put him on a set, or an ace since he would have raised preflop if that was the case. I go all-in as well, casting a wary eye on Dean ( a pretty tight player, but willing to take a flyer on occassion). He ponders for a long minute or two. He announces he has top two pair, and puts me on a set. He turns them over and folds. Long sigh of release from me.
The Juice turns over a pure bluff (9,6 right Juice?) and I win a nice pot.
In this case Dean was a victim of too much information. He had two all ins in front of him.With this 'info' he folds (I am certainly open the idea he should have called anyway).
I benefited from knowing the player ahead of me (juice-super aggressive) and Dean (extremely tight). However if I had the button, and The Juice goes all in, AND THEN Dean goes all in, I have to know I am beat. But by acting before the person with the better hand (but by no means the nut hand) I was able to pull the pot, and leave Dean shaking his head at his no call.
Tuesday @ Dave's....
Well, last night was a good night for me at Dave's. There were several big hands where I may have laid down the best hand and several where I stayed in with the right pot odds and hit my cards.....
There were a couple of big hands with Bill T that came in perfectly. I like playing pocket aces in Omaha 8 but it is a really hand for me to muck if it doesn't hit. This particular hand I had Ah, Ad, 3c, 5s.... No raises pre-flop and the flop was As, Kc, Kd. I was the big blind and patiently checked hoping that someone had a King and hopefully AK...... it checked all the way around. The next card was the 4s..... A little afraid of the low coming in, but I checked anyway. Bill T bets 30 and there are 2 callers in front of me and I think that it is likely that there are at least a couple of callers after me if I don't raise them out. I decided not to push.... YET. The river was a brick.... no low. I check and it gets to Bill T and he bets 45 and everyone folds to me and I re-raise all-in and Bill calls and turns over the AK...... Talk about a cold deck!
It seems that almost every draw that I was seeking came against Bill last night.... In another hand, I had the 3s, 4s, 5h, 8h and the flop was 2c, 5s, 10h. Bill bets 10 and including my call, there were 6 callers. The turn was 8c and everyone checks to Bill and he bets 15 and everyone calls. The river was the sweetest Ad that I think I have ever seen.... giving me the double nuts. Bill bets 50, everyone folds and I re-raise another 150 and Bill calls and turns over a set of Aces.
There was another hand that didn't quite turn out the way that I had hoped with Bill.... In Omaha 8, I flopped the bottom set of 4's with the flop of 4, 7, 9os. The turn was the 7 and Bill lead out with a 35 bet and I re-raised 70 more. There were 3 callers and the river was a brick. Everyone checked and Bill turned over a bigger boat, 7's full of 9's.
All-in-all though, it was an excellent night at the tables. I'm really looking forward to AC in September!
Back to the felt!
There were a couple of big hands with Bill T that came in perfectly. I like playing pocket aces in Omaha 8 but it is a really hand for me to muck if it doesn't hit. This particular hand I had Ah, Ad, 3c, 5s.... No raises pre-flop and the flop was As, Kc, Kd. I was the big blind and patiently checked hoping that someone had a King and hopefully AK...... it checked all the way around. The next card was the 4s..... A little afraid of the low coming in, but I checked anyway. Bill T bets 30 and there are 2 callers in front of me and I think that it is likely that there are at least a couple of callers after me if I don't raise them out. I decided not to push.... YET. The river was a brick.... no low. I check and it gets to Bill T and he bets 45 and everyone folds to me and I re-raise all-in and Bill calls and turns over the AK...... Talk about a cold deck!
It seems that almost every draw that I was seeking came against Bill last night.... In another hand, I had the 3s, 4s, 5h, 8h and the flop was 2c, 5s, 10h. Bill bets 10 and including my call, there were 6 callers. The turn was 8c and everyone checks to Bill and he bets 15 and everyone calls. The river was the sweetest Ad that I think I have ever seen.... giving me the double nuts. Bill bets 50, everyone folds and I re-raise another 150 and Bill calls and turns over a set of Aces.
There was another hand that didn't quite turn out the way that I had hoped with Bill.... In Omaha 8, I flopped the bottom set of 4's with the flop of 4, 7, 9os. The turn was the 7 and Bill lead out with a 35 bet and I re-raised 70 more. There were 3 callers and the river was a brick. Everyone checked and Bill turned over a bigger boat, 7's full of 9's.
All-in-all though, it was an excellent night at the tables. I'm really looking forward to AC in September!
Back to the felt!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Poker Tips - Hold 'em
Betting to get information
If you've been playing awhile, you've probably heard a guy at your table who had just made a bet, get raised or re-raised and say something like, "well, I found out what I needed to know" and then muck his cards. Betting is not always because you have the best hand. All of the best players, at all levels, use various betting techniques to try to gain information. I have made many bets or raises as a defensive bet early in a hand to discourage my opponent from making a bigger bet on the turn or the river. In many instances the opponent would then do the familiar nod and glance at me when he knocks the table to acknowledge his check which in many instances was the reaction that I was seeking. It's all about scenarios and how well you know your opponent. That same re-raise won't work against some players. There are those opponents that you know your re-raise is going to solicit a larger re-raise or an all-in. But, there are absolutely those instances when your re-raise may be used to probe the credibility of your opponent’s hand. If he/she comes back over the top..... get excited.... or get out!
If you've been playing awhile, you've probably heard a guy at your table who had just made a bet, get raised or re-raised and say something like, "well, I found out what I needed to know" and then muck his cards. Betting is not always because you have the best hand. All of the best players, at all levels, use various betting techniques to try to gain information. I have made many bets or raises as a defensive bet early in a hand to discourage my opponent from making a bigger bet on the turn or the river. In many instances the opponent would then do the familiar nod and glance at me when he knocks the table to acknowledge his check which in many instances was the reaction that I was seeking. It's all about scenarios and how well you know your opponent. That same re-raise won't work against some players. There are those opponents that you know your re-raise is going to solicit a larger re-raise or an all-in. But, there are absolutely those instances when your re-raise may be used to probe the credibility of your opponent’s hand. If he/she comes back over the top..... get excited.... or get out!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Big Tournaments in AC in September!
There are two big live tournaments running in the U.S. in September, and both of them are being held in Atlantic City, NJ. The Borgata Poker Open and the US Poker Championships. There are several of us who are planning to make the trip.... we already have our DEAD MONEY tee-shirts and are ready to go.... We are looking for some detailed information about both tournaments if any of you have experience with them, please let us know.
We are considering taking part in the $300, the $500, the $1,000, the $2,500, the $5,000 and the $10,000 buy-in tournaments. We are basically looking for detailed information about the number of chips provided for each and the blind structure for each. Since we haven't decided which event we're going to get to, if anyone has any information about either tournament, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
We are considering taking part in the $300, the $500, the $1,000, the $2,500, the $5,000 and the $10,000 buy-in tournaments. We are basically looking for detailed information about the number of chips provided for each and the blind structure for each. Since we haven't decided which event we're going to get to, if anyone has any information about either tournament, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Poker Tips - Hold 'em
Learn How to Change Gears
I think if you were to try to label my play, it would probably be tight/aggressive. I have been making changes to that, but the image has helped me get some timely calls. I do change it up. And if you'll think of the players that you "fear" the most, in most instances, it is the guys that are very aggressive all the time. I won't call any names, but I think that you know who you are.... It's the guys that have the ability to play 4, 5os as aggressively as they play AA.
Most of us can figure out a really loose player by waiting for good cards, being patient and pouncing when we get really good cards. However, an even easier opponent to play against is a really tight player, sometimes called a "rock", the guy who plays only premium hands. If that is you, you really need to change your game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and are willing to play less than premium hands. The changes you make should be subtle and definitely shouldn't greatly impact the number of hands that you play. However, if there is a reasonable raise and you're in late position with 6, 7os.... play it. And if you get the chance, show it to let them know that you're not only going to play AA. It may improve the chance of your getting some action when you do get AA later.
Unpredictability is a good thing!
I think if you were to try to label my play, it would probably be tight/aggressive. I have been making changes to that, but the image has helped me get some timely calls. I do change it up. And if you'll think of the players that you "fear" the most, in most instances, it is the guys that are very aggressive all the time. I won't call any names, but I think that you know who you are.... It's the guys that have the ability to play 4, 5os as aggressively as they play AA.
Most of us can figure out a really loose player by waiting for good cards, being patient and pouncing when we get really good cards. However, an even easier opponent to play against is a really tight player, sometimes called a "rock", the guy who plays only premium hands. If that is you, you really need to change your game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and are willing to play less than premium hands. The changes you make should be subtle and definitely shouldn't greatly impact the number of hands that you play. However, if there is a reasonable raise and you're in late position with 6, 7os.... play it. And if you get the chance, show it to let them know that you're not only going to play AA. It may improve the chance of your getting some action when you do get AA later.
Unpredictability is a good thing!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Sunday PKR Tourney....
Well, we had another excellent tournament at PKR today! Rick and I ended up playing heads up for 1st spot.... We have both played really well all day. There was one hand that could have been disaster for me when I slow played the Ah, 10h and flop came 10d, 5h, 6h. Rick was in the small blind and led out with a decent sized bet. I almost pushed all-in and I know he would have called and probably would have crippled me. The turn was a brick and he bet 2300 and I called. The river was another brick and he bet 2000 and I called. He turns over the 5d, 6d, I believe flopping two pair. And unfortunately for me top pair with the nut flush draw didn't improve.
The hand that really did me in was late in our heads up play when he made a small raise pre-flop and I called with 9h, 3h. The flop was 10h, 8h, 3d. I flopped bottom pair with the flush draw. I checked and he bet 2000 and I raised to 7000 and he pushed all-in. I thought for a moment and had him slow-playing a 10 which meant that I may have been behind, I had plenty of outs. Unfortunately for me, he had no pair, only the nut flush draw and of course he hits on the river. Had he known what cards that I was on, he would have gladly moved all-in as he was playing the Ah, 4h which meant that any Ace was good, any four was good and of course... any heart!
I was so crippled that the rest of the tournament was really just a formality. Everytime I raised, he folded and I was basically blinded out till he raised once when I had suited connectors.... Daniel Negreanu's favorite hand, 10s, 7s. Rick had an ace and it held up.
Nice playing.... but I'll be back!
The hand that really did me in was late in our heads up play when he made a small raise pre-flop and I called with 9h, 3h. The flop was 10h, 8h, 3d. I flopped bottom pair with the flush draw. I checked and he bet 2000 and I raised to 7000 and he pushed all-in. I thought for a moment and had him slow-playing a 10 which meant that I may have been behind, I had plenty of outs. Unfortunately for me, he had no pair, only the nut flush draw and of course he hits on the river. Had he known what cards that I was on, he would have gladly moved all-in as he was playing the Ah, 4h which meant that any Ace was good, any four was good and of course... any heart!
I was so crippled that the rest of the tournament was really just a formality. Everytime I raised, he folded and I was basically blinded out till he raised once when I had suited connectors.... Daniel Negreanu's favorite hand, 10s, 7s. Rick had an ace and it held up.
Nice playing.... but I'll be back!
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Saturday PKR Tourney....
Well, it was the finals of the 12 week tourney where a percentage is pulled from each week's purse to make a nice little tourney for the TOP 10 PLUS one wild-card. I won a couple of nice pots early before I ran into Ed Flush... I called the big blind for about 300 in late position and Ed limped in the small position and Carl checked. The flop was A, 2, 5... rainbow. Ed pushes all-in for about 2700 and Carl quickly folds. I am trying to find a reason to fold, but every instinct tells me that he is on a bad ace. I've got close to 10,000 so if I lose, it won't be horrible so I call. He turns over pocket fives and is way ahead. The turn pairs the 2's giving him a full house but give me outs. And, I know it is very unlike me, but I suck out and hit the Ace on the river to make Aces full of two's which beats his fives full of two's. Wow! Runner/Runner suckout.....
Then there was a huge hand when we were down to five players.... Akash moves all in for about 5,500 under the gun. I look down at pocket Jacks and push all-in.... Carl is on the big blind and goes all-in.... What luck! Five handed play and Akash has pocket Kings and Carl has pocket Aces and the Aces hold up..... That really crippled me. I was down to about 1800 chips and doubled up on the next hand with A, Kos. Then with JoeBob first to act, he raises an amount that would put me all-in. I have a small pocket pair and have to decide whether I want to try to hold out for the other small stack to bust out or if I want to try to double up through JoeBob with my pocket pair. I call and he turns over pocket Queens and I'm down to two outs and they don't come.....
Fourth place.... But we did chop in fourth and I won a little bit......
Nice playing guys!
Then there was a huge hand when we were down to five players.... Akash moves all in for about 5,500 under the gun. I look down at pocket Jacks and push all-in.... Carl is on the big blind and goes all-in.... What luck! Five handed play and Akash has pocket Kings and Carl has pocket Aces and the Aces hold up..... That really crippled me. I was down to about 1800 chips and doubled up on the next hand with A, Kos. Then with JoeBob first to act, he raises an amount that would put me all-in. I have a small pocket pair and have to decide whether I want to try to hold out for the other small stack to bust out or if I want to try to double up through JoeBob with my pocket pair. I call and he turns over pocket Queens and I'm down to two outs and they don't come.....
Fourth place.... But we did chop in fourth and I won a little bit......
Nice playing guys!
Friday, August 25, 2006
BIG TOURNAMENT AT PKR THIS SUNDAY!
This Sunday, 8/27, there will be a big tournament at PKR! Buy-in's of 120, with 110 Re-buys for the first hour or so and then a 110 add-on at the end of the re-buy period! I am very excited about it! I would like to see us get a big game going there on a weekly basis.I believe that JC said that you would get 3,000 for the original buy-in and you can do a re-buy right then or anytime your chip count falls below 2,000. Then the add-on will be an addional 5,000 in chips! It sounds as if you will be able to really play poker! Sweet!I'll definitely be there and I'll be trying to get as many of my friends plugged in as possible!
Poker Tips - Hold 'em
Too Many Hands
If there is one big mistake that I see most beginners make regularly, it is that they play way too many hands. I don't remember exactly where I read it, but it seems that I remember reading that most top pros play between 20%-30% of their starting hands. If you'll focus on playing higher value starting hands, it'll help remove the luck element of the game.
You can get lucky! You will see learned players "at a full table" play what would appear to be an easy hand to get away from, but typically it is with the plan of trying to spike a big flop so that they can bust someone, BUT if it doesn't happen on the flop, they throw it away.
Don't be a donkey! Throw it away. You may be card dead on any given day, but there will be more days.... even in NC.
If there is one big mistake that I see most beginners make regularly, it is that they play way too many hands. I don't remember exactly where I read it, but it seems that I remember reading that most top pros play between 20%-30% of their starting hands. If you'll focus on playing higher value starting hands, it'll help remove the luck element of the game.
You can get lucky! You will see learned players "at a full table" play what would appear to be an easy hand to get away from, but typically it is with the plan of trying to spike a big flop so that they can bust someone, BUT if it doesn't happen on the flop, they throw it away.
Don't be a donkey! Throw it away. You may be card dead on any given day, but there will be more days.... even in NC.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
The Juice - THE 21ST CENTURY!
OK... Dave has officially crawled.... kicking and screaming into the 21st century! With the previous blog marking his official first blog ever..... Nice!
Two Royal Flushes in one night.... what a way to enter!
You are definitely.... "da man"
Two Royal Flushes in one night.... what a way to enter!
You are definitely.... "da man"
Poker - Bad Beats & Great Hands: Get the monkey night @ Dave's!
http://badbeatsandgreathands.blogspot.com/2006/08/get-monkey-night-daves.html
Many of you Suckas think it is easy to play the mother of all hands, "The Royal Flush." Well, most of you pigeons have never earned the right to play such a distinguished hand like myself, "The Juice!" It just so happens that I was a keen enough player to hit that monster twice in one night. Even though I disguised it like a Doyle Bruson in his early years, I was only able to get a small amount of cash from my two favorite players, Rick & Charles! I felt as if I would take advantage of their weak playing styles and poor presence at the table - they would both go home crying like little sheep. I was only half correct. Rick - do you need me to supply some tissues???
The Juice.
Many of you Suckas think it is easy to play the mother of all hands, "The Royal Flush." Well, most of you pigeons have never earned the right to play such a distinguished hand like myself, "The Juice!" It just so happens that I was a keen enough player to hit that monster twice in one night. Even though I disguised it like a Doyle Bruson in his early years, I was only able to get a small amount of cash from my two favorite players, Rick & Charles! I felt as if I would take advantage of their weak playing styles and poor presence at the table - they would both go home crying like little sheep. I was only half correct. Rick - do you need me to supply some tissues???
The Juice.
More Poker Etiquette
I also found this information at BlindBetPoker.com - It is interesting that everywhere I found information on these issues that Acting Out of Turn was number 1 on the list. LOL. The reason that I am including this one in its entirety is this past Tuesday night there was some discussion about the fact that in our "posted" game rules that we required the player who acts out of turn to follow-through on his verbal or physical statement that was made out of turn. The discussion revolved around the fact that some had never seen the requirement for the person who acted out of turn be required to complete his stated action. In this excerpt, it clearly states that it is possible to be required to complete the stated action. At any rate, here you go....
http://www.blindbetpoker.com/tips/poker-etiquette.html
Poker Etiquette
© 2005 Jason Kirk
Online poker has been a mixed blessing in a lot of ways. On the positive side, people who live far from casinos and don't want to play in underground games can enjoy a safe game of poker from the comfort of their own homes. A lot of new players have been brought into the game this way, which is also a good thing - more money is up for grabs today than at any time in the past. One of the negative sides of online poker is that some of these players who have never played in a casino or regular home game before don't know anything about the etiquette of poker. Ignorance of accepted rules and procedures is no excuse for breaking them; it's best to be educated in order to avoid any unwanted embarrassment or confrontations. Thankfully most poker etiquette is very simple and revolves around the concept that you shouldn't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you. For those who may be new to live games, here's an overview of a few basic rules of poker etiquette.
1. Don't act out of turn.
When playing online, it's impossible to act out of turn because the software just doesn't allow you to do it. Once you're seated at a poker table, though, it's imperative that you pay attention to the game to avoid acting out of turn. Making a raise out of position not only gives extra information to the players who have yet to act, but it's also considered a binding action. You could be forced to move all in if a player you skipped makes a large enough raise. This rule of etiquette is considerate of the other players, but following it could also save you a lot of money in the right situation.
2. No string bets.
If you've ever seen an old poker movie where a player tosses out chips and says something like, "I call your $500 and raise you another $500," you've seen a string bet. This way of betting in considered unethical because it gives you a chance to gauge your opponent's reaction before announcing the amount of your raise. It's very easy to avoid this in practice. Verbal declarations are binding in casino play, so once you've announced you intend to raise you can take your time in getting your chips together. Move your chips forward in one motion, or if you'll need two motions because your raise is so big, announce the amount of your raise.
3. Don't splash the pot.
In the film Rounders, there's a memorable scene where Mike McDermott is playing Teddy KGB in a heads-up match of no-limit hold'em. Teddy makes a bet and throws his chips in the middle in big, unorganized piles. Mike asks him not to splash the pot, and Teddy replies (not in so many words) that he'll splash the pot in his own club whenever he wants. Throwing your chips into the pot can slow the game down, and it can also make the amount you've bet unclear. When you bet, place your chips in easy-to-measure stacks in front of you and you'll keep everything moving along nicely.
4. One player, one hand.
This is one of the most basic rules of the game - you can't receive advice from anyone else on how to play your hand. Every player is responsible for making decisions with the money he brings to the table. This means you can't ask a neighbor who's out of the pot how we would play your hand. It also means you can't encourage someone else at the table to call a player you want to see gone from the game. Make your own decisions for yourself, and let other make their own decisions as well.
5. Protect your hand.
Players are responsible for protecting their cards at all times. There are two main implications of this rule. First, you should take measures to make sure that your opponents can't see your cards - if they catch a glimpse of what you're holding, there's no one to blame but yourself. Second, if a dealer accidentally grabs your cards and throws them into the muck, your hand will be declared dead and you'll forfeit any money you've put into the pot. In practice, you should keep a chip or some other object on top of your cards to indicate that they are still in play, and when you look at your cards you should keep them on the table and cup your hands over them to obscure them from anyone else's view.
http://www.blindbetpoker.com/tips/poker-etiquette.html
Poker Etiquette
© 2005 Jason Kirk
Online poker has been a mixed blessing in a lot of ways. On the positive side, people who live far from casinos and don't want to play in underground games can enjoy a safe game of poker from the comfort of their own homes. A lot of new players have been brought into the game this way, which is also a good thing - more money is up for grabs today than at any time in the past. One of the negative sides of online poker is that some of these players who have never played in a casino or regular home game before don't know anything about the etiquette of poker. Ignorance of accepted rules and procedures is no excuse for breaking them; it's best to be educated in order to avoid any unwanted embarrassment or confrontations. Thankfully most poker etiquette is very simple and revolves around the concept that you shouldn't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you. For those who may be new to live games, here's an overview of a few basic rules of poker etiquette.
1. Don't act out of turn.
When playing online, it's impossible to act out of turn because the software just doesn't allow you to do it. Once you're seated at a poker table, though, it's imperative that you pay attention to the game to avoid acting out of turn. Making a raise out of position not only gives extra information to the players who have yet to act, but it's also considered a binding action. You could be forced to move all in if a player you skipped makes a large enough raise. This rule of etiquette is considerate of the other players, but following it could also save you a lot of money in the right situation.
2. No string bets.
If you've ever seen an old poker movie where a player tosses out chips and says something like, "I call your $500 and raise you another $500," you've seen a string bet. This way of betting in considered unethical because it gives you a chance to gauge your opponent's reaction before announcing the amount of your raise. It's very easy to avoid this in practice. Verbal declarations are binding in casino play, so once you've announced you intend to raise you can take your time in getting your chips together. Move your chips forward in one motion, or if you'll need two motions because your raise is so big, announce the amount of your raise.
3. Don't splash the pot.
In the film Rounders, there's a memorable scene where Mike McDermott is playing Teddy KGB in a heads-up match of no-limit hold'em. Teddy makes a bet and throws his chips in the middle in big, unorganized piles. Mike asks him not to splash the pot, and Teddy replies (not in so many words) that he'll splash the pot in his own club whenever he wants. Throwing your chips into the pot can slow the game down, and it can also make the amount you've bet unclear. When you bet, place your chips in easy-to-measure stacks in front of you and you'll keep everything moving along nicely.
4. One player, one hand.
This is one of the most basic rules of the game - you can't receive advice from anyone else on how to play your hand. Every player is responsible for making decisions with the money he brings to the table. This means you can't ask a neighbor who's out of the pot how we would play your hand. It also means you can't encourage someone else at the table to call a player you want to see gone from the game. Make your own decisions for yourself, and let other make their own decisions as well.
5. Protect your hand.
Players are responsible for protecting their cards at all times. There are two main implications of this rule. First, you should take measures to make sure that your opponents can't see your cards - if they catch a glimpse of what you're holding, there's no one to blame but yourself. Second, if a dealer accidentally grabs your cards and throws them into the muck, your hand will be declared dead and you'll forfeit any money you've put into the pot. In practice, you should keep a chip or some other object on top of your cards to indicate that they are still in play, and when you look at your cards you should keep them on the table and cup your hands over them to obscure them from anyone else's view.
Acting out of turn....
Over the past week or two we've had a couple of issues with poker etiquette. This is definitely a gray area and different casinos handle it based on their situation. I did a little research to try to find an answer for us and really didn't find any reference to punishment or what the ramifications are for repeatedly breaking the "rules" of etiquette that are acceptable in our situation. I did find in Roberts Rules of Poker the following on etiquette and conduct. I hope it helps.
Roberts Rules of Poker - Poker Etiquette
The following actions are improper, and grounds for warning, suspending, or barring a violator:
-Deliberately acting out of turn.
-Deliberately splashing chips into the pot.
-Agreeing to check a hand out when a third player is all-in.
-Reading a hand for another player at the showdown before it has been placed face up on the table.
-Telling anyone to turn a hand face up at the showdown.
-Revealing the contents of a live hand in a multihanded pot before the betting is complete.
-Needlessly stalling the action of a game.
-Deliberately discarding hands away from the muck. Cards should be released in a low line of flight, at a moderate rate of speed (not at the dealer's hands or chip-rack).
-Stacking chips in a manner that interferes with dealing or viewing cards.
-Making statements or taking action that could unfairly influence the course of play, whether or not the offender is involved in the pot.
-Using a cell phone at the table.
Roberts Rules of Poker - Conduct Code
Management will attempt to maintain a pleasant environment for all our customers and employees, but is not responsible for the conduct of any player. We have established a code of conduct, and may deny the use of our cardroom to anyone who violates it. The following is not permitted:
-Collusion with another player or any other form of cheating.
-Verbally or physically threatening any patron or employee.
-Using profanity or obscene language.
-Creating a disturbance by arguing, shouting, or making excessive noise.
-Throwing, tearing, bending, or crumpling cards.
-Destroying or defacing property.
-Using an illegal substance.
-Carrying a weapon.
Roberts Rules of Poker - Poker Etiquette
The following actions are improper, and grounds for warning, suspending, or barring a violator:
-Deliberately acting out of turn.
-Deliberately splashing chips into the pot.
-Agreeing to check a hand out when a third player is all-in.
-Reading a hand for another player at the showdown before it has been placed face up on the table.
-Telling anyone to turn a hand face up at the showdown.
-Revealing the contents of a live hand in a multihanded pot before the betting is complete.
-Needlessly stalling the action of a game.
-Deliberately discarding hands away from the muck. Cards should be released in a low line of flight, at a moderate rate of speed (not at the dealer's hands or chip-rack).
-Stacking chips in a manner that interferes with dealing or viewing cards.
-Making statements or taking action that could unfairly influence the course of play, whether or not the offender is involved in the pot.
-Using a cell phone at the table.
Roberts Rules of Poker - Conduct Code
Management will attempt to maintain a pleasant environment for all our customers and employees, but is not responsible for the conduct of any player. We have established a code of conduct, and may deny the use of our cardroom to anyone who violates it. The following is not permitted:
-Collusion with another player or any other form of cheating.
-Verbally or physically threatening any patron or employee.
-Using profanity or obscene language.
-Creating a disturbance by arguing, shouting, or making excessive noise.
-Throwing, tearing, bending, or crumpling cards.
-Destroying or defacing property.
-Using an illegal substance.
-Carrying a weapon.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Did I offend someone in a previous life?
UGH... To expand on Sonic the Hedgehog's hand, I swear I told myself after his re-raise to $30 that he was on tilt (and you have to admit Charles, you were, after some ugly hands prior to our little soire), and I can't let him push me off KK. I remember thinking if he's got AA, he can have my chips. I mean sheesh... we only play about 10 hands of Hold'Em an hour. Whoever says online poker is rigged would have changed their tune last night.
So I played pretty well all night up to then, made one questionable call with a low only (am I the only one that does that?) and then semi-tilted the rest of my chips away when The Mad Chinaman reraised to $60 preflop in O8. Pretty sure he's got AA-low-X, but I've got ace-busters, and I know he'll get it all in with me after the flop. I call with QJ89, double suited, one of which was clubs. Flop is K86, 2 clubs. We get it all in. At this point, I'm a little skeptical because John calls too, but I made the right read on Mike, and knew I was favored to beat the aces. Turn is a Jack, so I actually have the best hand with 2 pair. Of course, King pairs the board, giving The Mad Chinaman Aces-up, and I have to hitchhike home.
Two nights, and down a tidy sum. Unfortunately, I have to call it quits from you crazy wacko psychos for a few weeks after those two nights, because we don't want to play with the rent money. Or the beer money. Or the hockey ticket money.
So I played pretty well all night up to then, made one questionable call with a low only (am I the only one that does that?) and then semi-tilted the rest of my chips away when The Mad Chinaman reraised to $60 preflop in O8. Pretty sure he's got AA-low-X, but I've got ace-busters, and I know he'll get it all in with me after the flop. I call with QJ89, double suited, one of which was clubs. Flop is K86, 2 clubs. We get it all in. At this point, I'm a little skeptical because John calls too, but I made the right read on Mike, and knew I was favored to beat the aces. Turn is a Jack, so I actually have the best hand with 2 pair. Of course, King pairs the board, giving The Mad Chinaman Aces-up, and I have to hitchhike home.
Two nights, and down a tidy sum. Unfortunately, I have to call it quits from you crazy wacko psychos for a few weeks after those two nights, because we don't want to play with the rent money. Or the beer money. Or the hockey ticket money.
Get the monkey night @ Dave's!
I'm going to let some of the guys post their own stories, Elvie, the JUICE.... get busy! Let me give you a quick overview of the hands that were going around the table last night..... 2 different ROYAL FLUSHES! Aces full of Queens beaten by QUAD QUEENS! And in Omaha 8, a straight flush Ah, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h!
There were a couple of big hands for me.... one of our newest players, natediggity, took another big hit from one of them.... No Limit Hold'em, 2/4 blinds, if I remember correctly, I was in the big blind and natediggity raised the pot to 18, I re-raised 30 more, he re-raised to 100, I re-raised all-in for another 250 and he immediately calls. I've AA and he has KK. The door card was a King, but the Ace was right behind it. And I dodged his one outer.....
Another sweet hand was I was in the big blind in Omaha 8. I've got the 6h, 8h, 7c, 7d and the flop was 5h, 7c, 9d. I bet 18 and got 3 callers.... The turn was Qc and I bet 29 and had 2 callers. The river was the 5d. I bet $65 and everyone folded.
And of course the Juice put me to the test after his 2 1/2 hour siesta.... right! We're playing hold'em and I have Kh, Jc and in late position. I call and Jeffrey bets 12 more.... the Juice and I call. The flop is the Jh, 7d, 4d. I've soft played Jeff a couple of times already and let him catch up and take the pot away from me. He leads out with an 18 bet and Dave calls. I make 75 and the Juice pushes all in for another 275 or so. I take a few seconds to analyze his play this hand and if you don't think that will give you a headache... just try it. At any rate, I put him on either a straight draw or a flush draw... at any rate, everything I could put him on was a draw. I call and the turn and river are bricks! Whee!
Come on guys... post those straight flushes!
There were a couple of big hands for me.... one of our newest players, natediggity, took another big hit from one of them.... No Limit Hold'em, 2/4 blinds, if I remember correctly, I was in the big blind and natediggity raised the pot to 18, I re-raised 30 more, he re-raised to 100, I re-raised all-in for another 250 and he immediately calls. I've AA and he has KK. The door card was a King, but the Ace was right behind it. And I dodged his one outer.....
Another sweet hand was I was in the big blind in Omaha 8. I've got the 6h, 8h, 7c, 7d and the flop was 5h, 7c, 9d. I bet 18 and got 3 callers.... The turn was Qc and I bet 29 and had 2 callers. The river was the 5d. I bet $65 and everyone folded.
And of course the Juice put me to the test after his 2 1/2 hour siesta.... right! We're playing hold'em and I have Kh, Jc and in late position. I call and Jeffrey bets 12 more.... the Juice and I call. The flop is the Jh, 7d, 4d. I've soft played Jeff a couple of times already and let him catch up and take the pot away from me. He leads out with an 18 bet and Dave calls. I make 75 and the Juice pushes all in for another 275 or so. I take a few seconds to analyze his play this hand and if you don't think that will give you a headache... just try it. At any rate, I put him on either a straight draw or a flush draw... at any rate, everything I could put him on was a draw. I call and the turn and river are bricks! Whee!
Come on guys... post those straight flushes!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
How to post/create a POST or COMMENT to this blog?
It's really pretty easy..... there are basically two different things that you may post to this blog site.... a comment or a post. The comment is really pretty simple, it doesn't require any log-in at all. You just read the post which you would like to post a comment to and then click on the "COMMENTS" link at the bottom of that post. Again, you don't have to have a log-in, it'll let you post a comment as Anonymous. The other way to post and I think it is the best one, you must be a MEMBER of this blog, Poker - Bad Beats & Great Hands. In order to become a member, just send me an email at charles@richards-web.com and I'll forward you the membership link. The rest is really simple.... you'll receive an email from the system within a day that has a link embedded in it. You just follow that link and create a blog account, basically by creating a unique user name with a password and then you are free to log-in and blog till your hearts content or until you get sucked out on... whichever comes first.
If you are already a member but haven't posted yet, don't be afraid, it won't hurt long.... All you have to do is from the main screen at http://badbeatsandgreathands.blogspot.com/ just click on the word "Blogger" in the top left hand corner of your screen. It will take you to a log-in screen where you would enter your user name and password. This will take you to a screen where one of the options will be a green plus sign.... NEW POST! And away you go..... once you've finished typing you can save it as a draft or publish post. If you publish post, in order for you to see your post on the site, you'll have to refresh it, but it is definitely there.
So I hope that helps and EVERYONE will get busy and start posting regularly!
See you tonight! Back to the felt!
If you are already a member but haven't posted yet, don't be afraid, it won't hurt long.... All you have to do is from the main screen at http://badbeatsandgreathands.blogspot.com/ just click on the word "Blogger" in the top left hand corner of your screen. It will take you to a log-in screen where you would enter your user name and password. This will take you to a screen where one of the options will be a green plus sign.... NEW POST! And away you go..... once you've finished typing you can save it as a draft or publish post. If you publish post, in order for you to see your post on the site, you'll have to refresh it, but it is definitely there.
So I hope that helps and EVERYONE will get busy and start posting regularly!
See you tonight! Back to the felt!
It's been raised.... what now?
This is where most people really blow it. How do you make the decision on making a call for half your chips ..... or all of your chips? Too many times this decision is based solely on emotion and not on math. I certainly have done it! And I have hit the one outer... haven't I Jeff? Without getting into pot odds and implied odds, probably the easiest to use and the best method of calculating the likelihood of getting your cards is the 2/4 Rule. The 2/4 rule gives you an answer that is within a percent or 2 of the actual number without having to be a math genius.
Here's how it works. First, you need to count your outs. Outs in a hold'em hand are the cards necessary that CAN come to complete your hand. For instance, if you have 4 to the flush on the flop, there are 9 cards left in the deck that can complete your flush (13 of each suit in the deck minus the 4 to the flush that are in your hand and on the board). Next you multiply your outs by either 2 or 4 depending on whether you plan on seeing 1 or 2 cards (either the turn or the river -or- the turn and the river). That number is percentage chance that your draw will hit. So for the flush draw to hit on either the turn or river, I multiply my 9 outs by 4 equalling 36. That means there is a 36% chance of my flush getting there if I plan on staying in and seeing both the turn and the river. If I were to only see the turn OR the river card, I would only multiply my outs by 2 -- which gives me an 18% chance of making my hand. There are a lot of other things that can and should be considered, but if you're looking for a quick and dirty way to help determine how likely it is for your card to come, this is a great method to use.
Here's another example... just for Dave... let's say that you have the Jc, 10c and flop a gut shot straight flush draw...... LOL. The 9c, 7c hit the board with a 2d. That means there is ONE card in the deck to complete your straight flush, but the same non-club 8 will give you a straight, the nut straight. Let's also assume that you believe that any club will make your hand (no other player has a higher flush draw.... {I know, only Dave would be doing all this assuming}), that means that there are 4 eights that will make your hand and 8 other clubs that would make your hand. It may also be safe to assume that any 10 or Jack might give you the best pair although depending on pre-flop bets/raises, the 10 or Jack may complete someone else's open ended straight draw. So, confused? Good! At any rate, there are 4 eights and 8 other clubs which means that you have 12 outs. So if you plan on seeing both the turn and the river, you've got a 48% chance of making your hand.
Now let's muddy the water... let's say that a 3c hits the turn. Now you have a Jack high flush with a straight flush draw. OK. Dave will bet $50 and let's say Rick re-raises all-in for $800 more. So, now you know that your flush is no good without the 8c.... or at least most know that it is no good..... But good old Dave cannot get away from it. He has one out with one card to come. The math should be pretty easy to do. 1 out X 2 = 2% chance that his card will hit. He, of course, calls and loses all his chips.
Now let's run the same scenario with Dave, but with Charles holding the nut flush. Everything is the same EXCEPT that Dave gets the 8c on the river and takes all Charles' chips.
Back to the felt!
Here's how it works. First, you need to count your outs. Outs in a hold'em hand are the cards necessary that CAN come to complete your hand. For instance, if you have 4 to the flush on the flop, there are 9 cards left in the deck that can complete your flush (13 of each suit in the deck minus the 4 to the flush that are in your hand and on the board). Next you multiply your outs by either 2 or 4 depending on whether you plan on seeing 1 or 2 cards (either the turn or the river -or- the turn and the river). That number is percentage chance that your draw will hit. So for the flush draw to hit on either the turn or river, I multiply my 9 outs by 4 equalling 36. That means there is a 36% chance of my flush getting there if I plan on staying in and seeing both the turn and the river. If I were to only see the turn OR the river card, I would only multiply my outs by 2 -- which gives me an 18% chance of making my hand. There are a lot of other things that can and should be considered, but if you're looking for a quick and dirty way to help determine how likely it is for your card to come, this is a great method to use.
Here's another example... just for Dave... let's say that you have the Jc, 10c and flop a gut shot straight flush draw...... LOL. The 9c, 7c hit the board with a 2d. That means there is ONE card in the deck to complete your straight flush, but the same non-club 8 will give you a straight, the nut straight. Let's also assume that you believe that any club will make your hand (no other player has a higher flush draw.... {I know, only Dave would be doing all this assuming}), that means that there are 4 eights that will make your hand and 8 other clubs that would make your hand. It may also be safe to assume that any 10 or Jack might give you the best pair although depending on pre-flop bets/raises, the 10 or Jack may complete someone else's open ended straight draw. So, confused? Good! At any rate, there are 4 eights and 8 other clubs which means that you have 12 outs. So if you plan on seeing both the turn and the river, you've got a 48% chance of making your hand.
Now let's muddy the water... let's say that a 3c hits the turn. Now you have a Jack high flush with a straight flush draw. OK. Dave will bet $50 and let's say Rick re-raises all-in for $800 more. So, now you know that your flush is no good without the 8c.... or at least most know that it is no good..... But good old Dave cannot get away from it. He has one out with one card to come. The math should be pretty easy to do. 1 out X 2 = 2% chance that his card will hit. He, of course, calls and loses all his chips.
Now let's run the same scenario with Dave, but with Charles holding the nut flush. Everything is the same EXCEPT that Dave gets the 8c on the river and takes all Charles' chips.
Back to the felt!
Monday, August 21, 2006
“Hello, Best Buy…?”
“…I need to upgrade my TV. No, better than projection, lets go with plasma. No, higher quality than Toshiba, lets go with Pioneer. No, bigger than 42, lets go with the 50 inch model.”
This is the conversation I’ll be having this week, after locking horns with Davey Boy – AKA “The Jizz” - a few times last week. Both the Tuesday and Thursday night sessions ended with me scooping his entire chip stack.
On Tuesday’s last hand, I was dealt Q-8 in NLHE, and check-called a bet of $25 on a flop of Q-5-2 rainbow. I like making the occasional slow-play against Davey (trying to give him just enough of the proverbial rope…). Anyway, the turn comes 3x. I check, and hesitate a second to plant the seed before smooth-calling a bet $60. I thought about raising here, as I was pretty sure my hand was good. You never quite know with The Jizz however, he can play 6-4 the same as Q-Q at times!
The 8x river card was one of the prettiest I’ve seen in a while, giving me top two pair. Dave is all but incapable of checking behind, especially heads-up after betting the previous two rounds. If he has a hand he’ll bet for value, and if he doesn’t he’ll throw out a big bluff to try to steal the pot. Knowing this, I decide to check-raise him on the river. I check, he bets $75, I casually throw out $225, and he immediately goes all-in for another $450 or so before my chips hit the table!
Two things are now apparent: 1) I’ve just executed the perfect trap play, and 2) I’m not quite sure if I trapped The Jizz or myself! I actually took 30 seconds or so to replay the hand in my head, just in case I could put him on a set or a straight. I couldn’t, I called, and he turned up Q-6. He said he put me on A-8.
Thursday’s last hand was Omaha 8 (hi/low split, 8 or better). I had A-Q-5-4 with two clubs, and the flop comes A-3-8, with one club. Not a bad flop for my hand, so I lead out with a $30 bet. Dave is the only caller. The turns comes 10c, giving me top pair with second kicker, a flush draw and a decent low. I bet $65, and Dave calls.
The river brings the prettiest card I’ve seen since…well, since Tuesday! It’s the 2s, and it gives me the double-nut wheel! Of course, The Jizz doesn’t need to know this, so I give my best disappointed/frustrated “my low just got counterfeited” eye roll and head nod before checking to him. Sure enough, he throws out a bet of $75, and I go all-in over the top for all his chips, about $500. He calls immediately, and turns up two-pair and 4-6 for second nut low.
Next to “Get the Monkey,” “Double Nuts” has got to be one of the sweetest phrases to utter in all of poker. I look forward to this week’s sessions, as I still have plenty of room left in my online shopping cart…
See ya at the tables...
Rick
This is the conversation I’ll be having this week, after locking horns with Davey Boy – AKA “The Jizz” - a few times last week. Both the Tuesday and Thursday night sessions ended with me scooping his entire chip stack.
On Tuesday’s last hand, I was dealt Q-8 in NLHE, and check-called a bet of $25 on a flop of Q-5-2 rainbow. I like making the occasional slow-play against Davey (trying to give him just enough of the proverbial rope…). Anyway, the turn comes 3x. I check, and hesitate a second to plant the seed before smooth-calling a bet $60. I thought about raising here, as I was pretty sure my hand was good. You never quite know with The Jizz however, he can play 6-4 the same as Q-Q at times!
The 8x river card was one of the prettiest I’ve seen in a while, giving me top two pair. Dave is all but incapable of checking behind, especially heads-up after betting the previous two rounds. If he has a hand he’ll bet for value, and if he doesn’t he’ll throw out a big bluff to try to steal the pot. Knowing this, I decide to check-raise him on the river. I check, he bets $75, I casually throw out $225, and he immediately goes all-in for another $450 or so before my chips hit the table!
Two things are now apparent: 1) I’ve just executed the perfect trap play, and 2) I’m not quite sure if I trapped The Jizz or myself! I actually took 30 seconds or so to replay the hand in my head, just in case I could put him on a set or a straight. I couldn’t, I called, and he turned up Q-6. He said he put me on A-8.
Thursday’s last hand was Omaha 8 (hi/low split, 8 or better). I had A-Q-5-4 with two clubs, and the flop comes A-3-8, with one club. Not a bad flop for my hand, so I lead out with a $30 bet. Dave is the only caller. The turns comes 10c, giving me top pair with second kicker, a flush draw and a decent low. I bet $65, and Dave calls.
The river brings the prettiest card I’ve seen since…well, since Tuesday! It’s the 2s, and it gives me the double-nut wheel! Of course, The Jizz doesn’t need to know this, so I give my best disappointed/frustrated “my low just got counterfeited” eye roll and head nod before checking to him. Sure enough, he throws out a bet of $75, and I go all-in over the top for all his chips, about $500. He calls immediately, and turns up two-pair and 4-6 for second nut low.
Next to “Get the Monkey,” “Double Nuts” has got to be one of the sweetest phrases to utter in all of poker. I look forward to this week’s sessions, as I still have plenty of room left in my online shopping cart…
See ya at the tables...
Rick
Triangle Poker Journal now has a link to us!
For those of you who haven't visited the Triangle Poker Journal website, if you are into poker of any kind, trips to any of the poker mecca's in the US (& elsewhere), tournament information, online poker, travel information, information on crusies that offer poker (not just casino games) and/or really anything to do with the game, you should definitely spend some time on this site. It's the only one like it that really has a Triangle focus and the information is always current and correct!
Here's the site.... visit it today! And now, there is a link on TPJ advertising us!
http://www.georgesmart.com/poker
Thanks George and good playing yesterday.....
Here's the site.... visit it today! And now, there is a link on TPJ advertising us!
http://www.georgesmart.com/poker
Thanks George and good playing yesterday.....
What is a "KILL" pot?
In a kill game of Texas hold'em, if a player wins two pots in a row, the stakes are doubled for the next hand. In a half kill game, the stakes are increased 50%. The player who met the kill condition must post a blind equal to the new lower limit bet size. This is in addition to the normal blinds posted for the game. If the player who met the kill condition is supposed to place the small or big blind, the new blind bet is placed instead of, not in addition to.
In some casinos, the killer acts last after the blinds; in others he acts in normal turn order. Limit Texas holdem rules are the same as fixed limit Texas hold'em rules, with the exception that the bettor may bet any amount between the stated minimum and maximum bets. For example, in a 10-to-30 spread limit Texas holdem game, a player may bet any amount between 10 dollars and 30 dollars. In addition, all bets and raises must be greater than or equal to the previous bet or raise, with the exception of a player that is raising all in. If a player does raise all in, and that bet is not greater than or equal to the previous raise, then the door is not opened for the original raiser to reraise.
I've also seen it played in Omaha 8 where if the winner SCOOPS the pot (wins both High & Low), the next hand is a KILL pot by the winner of the scooped pot.
In some casinos, the killer acts last after the blinds; in others he acts in normal turn order. Limit Texas holdem rules are the same as fixed limit Texas hold'em rules, with the exception that the bettor may bet any amount between the stated minimum and maximum bets. For example, in a 10-to-30 spread limit Texas holdem game, a player may bet any amount between 10 dollars and 30 dollars. In addition, all bets and raises must be greater than or equal to the previous bet or raise, with the exception of a player that is raising all in. If a player does raise all in, and that bet is not greater than or equal to the previous raise, then the door is not opened for the original raiser to reraise.
I've also seen it played in Omaha 8 where if the winner SCOOPS the pot (wins both High & Low), the next hand is a KILL pot by the winner of the scooped pot.
Sunday @ PKR!
The larger PKR tourney turned out to be very successful. While I would love to see it double in size, by the time the word gets out about it, I believe that it will grow and be a great tournament.
First and second place both left with over 1,000 at the end of the day.... the structure of the tournament promotes good play. You get enough chips and the blinds move up slow enough that you actually get to PLAY poker!
The structure is $120 buy-in ($3,000 in chips); $110 re-buys through first four blind periods ($2,000 in chips); and one add-on at the end of the re-buy period for $110 ($5,000 in chips). The blinds begin at $25/$50 and move up every 20 minutes but much slower than normal. If I remember correctly, it was this scale:
$25/$50
$50/$100
$75/$150
$100/$200
$150/$300
$200/$400
$300/$600
$400/$800
$500/$1,000
$600/$1,200
$800/$1,600
$1,000/$2,000
$1,500/$3,000
and so on.....
I think you get the picture..... All in all it was an excellent tournament and MikeD and I were happy to place 1st and 2nd! I am hoping that more folks will join us next Sunday!
Back to the felt!
First and second place both left with over 1,000 at the end of the day.... the structure of the tournament promotes good play. You get enough chips and the blinds move up slow enough that you actually get to PLAY poker!
The structure is $120 buy-in ($3,000 in chips); $110 re-buys through first four blind periods ($2,000 in chips); and one add-on at the end of the re-buy period for $110 ($5,000 in chips). The blinds begin at $25/$50 and move up every 20 minutes but much slower than normal. If I remember correctly, it was this scale:
$25/$50
$50/$100
$75/$150
$100/$200
$150/$300
$200/$400
$300/$600
$400/$800
$500/$1,000
$600/$1,200
$800/$1,600
$1,000/$2,000
$1,500/$3,000
and so on.....
I think you get the picture..... All in all it was an excellent tournament and MikeD and I were happy to place 1st and 2nd! I am hoping that more folks will join us next Sunday!
Back to the felt!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Saturday @ PKR
I played in the $40/$40/$40 tourney on Saturday at PKR and unfortunately was sucked out on several times from several people who really amaze me at their willingness to put their tournament life at risk on nothing but a draw when it is not necessary and very likely that they will be called to try to hit their draw. I won't berate them here as many times during a tournament, I'll verbally abuse them trying to put them on tilt. It's a little trick that I learned from Phil Helmuth and Mike the Mouth.... It really doesn't upset me but I have been successful putting someone else on tilt by clubbing them over and over.
I probably shouldn't do it because it is a donkey move and more times than not, their draws won't hit and they'll leave with their just desserts. I did bust out in 8th position severely crippled by the beat that Jeff put on me before we broke down to the final table.
Next time!
I probably shouldn't do it because it is a donkey move and more times than not, their draws won't hit and they'll leave with their just desserts. I did bust out in 8th position severely crippled by the beat that Jeff put on me before we broke down to the final table.
Next time!
Friday, August 18, 2006
Thursday at Dave's....
Welcome Natediggity! What a night to come in on! I hope that you'll post as most folks won't believe the action at this game.... True, it's not high stakes poker, but the dollars do move around the table, don't they!
A couple of very interesting hands happened early.... typical Dave hands.... I have learned, as I think most will concur, that Dave really isn't there to play great poker or to necessarily win. I believe that he has basically two goals for the night:
1) Bad beat as many people as possible while coming from behind.... I think he gets the most joy from me being one of those guys that he wants to send home naked. He also gets great joy from taking Rick's chips although I think who the victim is, is of little importance.
2) Get the monkey.... although he likes quads, he'll bet the house, farm, business, family and future earnings to hit a straight flush and of course, the higher the better!
My first big run-in with him of the night was hold'em $2/$4 No Limit. He has played well early and has me out-chipped by a couple of hundred dollars. I've got about $270 or so. He raises pre-flop $17 and I call with the Qh, 8h. The flop hit me like a ton of bricks..... 10h, 6h, 5h. I check and he pushes all-in. I immediately call and he turns over the Ah, Kd. The turn was the 7d and of course, J-rod gives him the 4th heart, the Jack on the river.
I did get a chance to double-up within about 15 minutes or so..... He raised pre-flop to $14 and I call with Qh, Jh and there are a couple other callers. The flop is Qs, Js, 6h. He bets $45 and I call and everyone else folds. The turn is a 2d. He bets $75 and I push all-in and he calls with the Ac, Qd and the river doesn't provide him an escape..... LOL.
Probably the monster hand for me for the night came about an hour later. I've got $500 or so and we're playing Hold'em $2/$4 No Limit in the big blind. Dave leads out in late position with a $40 raise and I screwed up..... I acted out of position and raised all-in and with Nate still in the hand and before my action, he pushed all-in. I wanted to isolate Dave or really any one person with my raise as I expected that they would have been on a big ace. I didn't want any part of the re-raised action by Nate, Unfortunately, due to the NEW posted rules, my action was binding and I had to call. Fortunately for me, Nate only had about $125 and Dave probably had $450 or so. At any rate, Dave calls which made me feel much better about my pocket sixes. Nate shows pocket Queens and Dave had Ad, 10d. However, since it is Natediggity's first night, he may as well get initiated correctly with a big bad beat. The flop was Kd, 6d, 10h... my set hit, but Dave was on a huge diamond flush draw. He didn't receive any help on the turn and the river and I took down a $1200-$1300 pot.
All-in-all I had a very good night that let me recoop my losses from Tuesday. Back to the felt!
A couple of very interesting hands happened early.... typical Dave hands.... I have learned, as I think most will concur, that Dave really isn't there to play great poker or to necessarily win. I believe that he has basically two goals for the night:
1) Bad beat as many people as possible while coming from behind.... I think he gets the most joy from me being one of those guys that he wants to send home naked. He also gets great joy from taking Rick's chips although I think who the victim is, is of little importance.
2) Get the monkey.... although he likes quads, he'll bet the house, farm, business, family and future earnings to hit a straight flush and of course, the higher the better!
My first big run-in with him of the night was hold'em $2/$4 No Limit. He has played well early and has me out-chipped by a couple of hundred dollars. I've got about $270 or so. He raises pre-flop $17 and I call with the Qh, 8h. The flop hit me like a ton of bricks..... 10h, 6h, 5h. I check and he pushes all-in. I immediately call and he turns over the Ah, Kd. The turn was the 7d and of course, J-rod gives him the 4th heart, the Jack on the river.
I did get a chance to double-up within about 15 minutes or so..... He raised pre-flop to $14 and I call with Qh, Jh and there are a couple other callers. The flop is Qs, Js, 6h. He bets $45 and I call and everyone else folds. The turn is a 2d. He bets $75 and I push all-in and he calls with the Ac, Qd and the river doesn't provide him an escape..... LOL.
Probably the monster hand for me for the night came about an hour later. I've got $500 or so and we're playing Hold'em $2/$4 No Limit in the big blind. Dave leads out in late position with a $40 raise and I screwed up..... I acted out of position and raised all-in and with Nate still in the hand and before my action, he pushed all-in. I wanted to isolate Dave or really any one person with my raise as I expected that they would have been on a big ace. I didn't want any part of the re-raised action by Nate, Unfortunately, due to the NEW posted rules, my action was binding and I had to call. Fortunately for me, Nate only had about $125 and Dave probably had $450 or so. At any rate, Dave calls which made me feel much better about my pocket sixes. Nate shows pocket Queens and Dave had Ad, 10d. However, since it is Natediggity's first night, he may as well get initiated correctly with a big bad beat. The flop was Kd, 6d, 10h... my set hit, but Dave was on a huge diamond flush draw. He didn't receive any help on the turn and the river and I took down a $1200-$1300 pot.
All-in-all I had a very good night that let me recoop my losses from Tuesday. Back to the felt!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
I'd rather be good AND lucky.....
Well, last night certainly went Rick's way.... He got doubled up early when he isolated Dave with a big raise and his big pair held up and the rest of the night it was kind of..... "who wants to get busted next?"
I don't believe that I'll ever sit in that position again.... with Rick on my right and Dave on Rick's right, everytime I would try to isolate, someone, usually Dave would call and give Rick pot odds to call with a crappy low draw that hit somehow.... The hand that stands out the most was Omaha Hi-Lo, I believe that I had Ah, Ac, Qh, 10d and the flop was As, 9c, 7c..... I bet $17 with the top set and had a couple of callers including Dave and Rick. The turn was Qd and I think that Dave bet and Rick called and I pushed all in for about $200 more..... everyone folds to Dave who calls and then Rick calls. The river is the 5c and Rick scoops the pot with 2c, 4c flush and the best low......
That was just the first of many......
Dave wanted me to blog one of the early Texas Hold 'em hands that he played with John S..... John was in late position and Dave bets $14 and there are several callers and John S pushes all in. Dave calls and everyone else folds. The flop is 8c, 8s, 7c. The turn is the 5h and Dave turns over his 4h, 6d to crack John's pocket Kings.....
I believe that Dave did that again to him a little later with Qc, 3c when he called a big pre-flop bet only to flop trip 3's......
Then there is the whole argument about whether you would rather be good or lucky...... I think that our friend Rick is one of those rare individuals who is both...... It was very frustrating to me last night to sit there and watch his stack constantly grow with him catching cards leaving his opponents looking like the remedial kid who stumbled into chemistry class! At any rate, he is an excellent reader of people and putting them on particular hands, AND when he calls their big bet he always (or at least it seems like always), he catches the miracle card to make his hand better! Yep.... there are 2 combination players that have the ability to set off my caution lights.... a very aggressive player who is catching cards - AND - a very good player, like Rick, who is catching cards..... If he starts streaking, you might be better off to climb into the cocoon with Dean and only bet when you have the stone cold nuts!
But then, that's no fun.....
I don't believe that I'll ever sit in that position again.... with Rick on my right and Dave on Rick's right, everytime I would try to isolate, someone, usually Dave would call and give Rick pot odds to call with a crappy low draw that hit somehow.... The hand that stands out the most was Omaha Hi-Lo, I believe that I had Ah, Ac, Qh, 10d and the flop was As, 9c, 7c..... I bet $17 with the top set and had a couple of callers including Dave and Rick. The turn was Qd and I think that Dave bet and Rick called and I pushed all in for about $200 more..... everyone folds to Dave who calls and then Rick calls. The river is the 5c and Rick scoops the pot with 2c, 4c flush and the best low......
That was just the first of many......
Dave wanted me to blog one of the early Texas Hold 'em hands that he played with John S..... John was in late position and Dave bets $14 and there are several callers and John S pushes all in. Dave calls and everyone else folds. The flop is 8c, 8s, 7c. The turn is the 5h and Dave turns over his 4h, 6d to crack John's pocket Kings.....
I believe that Dave did that again to him a little later with Qc, 3c when he called a big pre-flop bet only to flop trip 3's......
Then there is the whole argument about whether you would rather be good or lucky...... I think that our friend Rick is one of those rare individuals who is both...... It was very frustrating to me last night to sit there and watch his stack constantly grow with him catching cards leaving his opponents looking like the remedial kid who stumbled into chemistry class! At any rate, he is an excellent reader of people and putting them on particular hands, AND when he calls their big bet he always (or at least it seems like always), he catches the miracle card to make his hand better! Yep.... there are 2 combination players that have the ability to set off my caution lights.... a very aggressive player who is catching cards - AND - a very good player, like Rick, who is catching cards..... If he starts streaking, you might be better off to climb into the cocoon with Dean and only bet when you have the stone cold nuts!
But then, that's no fun.....
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Monday @ PKR.....
Well, it was the usual Monday night group last night at PKR.... I landed on a couple of big hands almost as soon as I sat down only to get called by 2, 3 off-suit that flops a boat, 3's full of 2's! Whee! That was Chad..... and yes, I made him feel bad about it all night! LOL.
I did get locked up in an interesting hand with Chad a little later that was wonderful payback. I normally do not raise pre-flop in a $1/$2 No Limit with Big Slick because you have to raise so much to get rid of these donkeys that if one wakes up pocket deuces.... you're behind! LOL. At any rate, I am on the button and get Ac, Kc and raise it to $11 and get several callers including Chad. The flop comes 9c, Ad, 2c..... pretty nice flop..... top pair and nut flush draw.....
So I bet $26 and it folds around to Chad who says.... "I'd call $25, not $26!" So I pull back $1 and everyone says, be careful what you ask for..... Chad says "Do you really want a caller?" And I said something like.... "with that board and my cards, I want your call!" He tosses in the $25!
The turn is the 6h and I bet $25 and he calls. The river is the 5c. He checks and I push all-in for another $190 and he immediately calls and turns over his 9 high straight. Yep, the 7h, 8c.
Sweet!
I did get locked up in an interesting hand with Chad a little later that was wonderful payback. I normally do not raise pre-flop in a $1/$2 No Limit with Big Slick because you have to raise so much to get rid of these donkeys that if one wakes up pocket deuces.... you're behind! LOL. At any rate, I am on the button and get Ac, Kc and raise it to $11 and get several callers including Chad. The flop comes 9c, Ad, 2c..... pretty nice flop..... top pair and nut flush draw.....
So I bet $26 and it folds around to Chad who says.... "I'd call $25, not $26!" So I pull back $1 and everyone says, be careful what you ask for..... Chad says "Do you really want a caller?" And I said something like.... "with that board and my cards, I want your call!" He tosses in the $25!
The turn is the 6h and I bet $25 and he calls. The river is the 5c. He checks and I push all-in for another $190 and he immediately calls and turns over his 9 high straight. Yep, the 7h, 8c.
Sweet!
Monday, August 14, 2006
BIG TOURNAMENT AT PKR THIS SUNDAY!
This Sunday, 8/20, there will be a big tournament at PKR! Buy-in's of $120, with $110 Re-buys for the first hour or so and then a $110 add-on at the end of the re-buy period! I am very excited about it! I would like to see us get a big game going there on a weekly basis.
I believe that JC said that you would get $3,000 for the original buy-in and you can do a re-buy right then or anytime your chip count falls below $2,000. Then the add-on will be an addional $4,000 in chips! It sounds as if you will be able to really play poker! Sweet!
I'll definitely be there and I'll be trying to get as many of my friends plugged in as possible!
I believe that JC said that you would get $3,000 for the original buy-in and you can do a re-buy right then or anytime your chip count falls below $2,000. Then the add-on will be an addional $4,000 in chips! It sounds as if you will be able to really play poker! Sweet!
I'll definitely be there and I'll be trying to get as many of my friends plugged in as possible!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Sunday PKR Tourney
We ended up playing winner take all tournament. The buy-in was $80 with no re-buys or add-ons. I won the button and that was the sign of good things to come..... Since we bought in for the $80, the table decided that we should receive the regular chip amount PLUS one re-buy chip amount so everyone was starting with $5,000 in chips. Within the first hour, I had pocket Kings twice, pocket Aces twice and several other pocket pairs PLUS big aces several times.
An intersting hand emerged with Tracey..... I am in early position with pocket-rockets and raise the $50/$100 blinds to $400. She re-raises to $1500 and everyone else folds to me and I just call. The flop is Kh, 7s, 4c. I can tell that she cannot wait to bet so I check. She bets $1500 with about $3,000 behind that so I push all-in and she calls. I've got her covered and she turns over pocket 10's. And of course, in true Ed Flush style, the turn is an Ace and the river is a ten!
A little later I get involved in a hand with Scott.... I'm in the big blind and my cards are 9s, 10s... one of my favorite hands. The blinds are $100/$200 and I just check. The flop is 7s, 8s, Qh.... Sweet! I like it! So I pump it up a little with a bet of $500 and Scott calls and Ed calls. The turn is the 6s - ye olde straight flush! So in hopes of letting them catch up. I check and they both check. The river is the Jack of spades which only makes my straight flush higher and I'm praying that one of these guys has a big spade..... but just to be safe, I bet $300 hoping that someone hit a big flush.... Scott calls and Ed folds. Who would have thunk it! Ed, not drawing to a flush! I show the nut straight flush and Scott flopped two pair, 8's and 7's.
I went on to win the event beating Scott with a medium Ace when he pushed all in with J, 9.
An intersting hand emerged with Tracey..... I am in early position with pocket-rockets and raise the $50/$100 blinds to $400. She re-raises to $1500 and everyone else folds to me and I just call. The flop is Kh, 7s, 4c. I can tell that she cannot wait to bet so I check. She bets $1500 with about $3,000 behind that so I push all-in and she calls. I've got her covered and she turns over pocket 10's. And of course, in true Ed Flush style, the turn is an Ace and the river is a ten!
A little later I get involved in a hand with Scott.... I'm in the big blind and my cards are 9s, 10s... one of my favorite hands. The blinds are $100/$200 and I just check. The flop is 7s, 8s, Qh.... Sweet! I like it! So I pump it up a little with a bet of $500 and Scott calls and Ed calls. The turn is the 6s - ye olde straight flush! So in hopes of letting them catch up. I check and they both check. The river is the Jack of spades which only makes my straight flush higher and I'm praying that one of these guys has a big spade..... but just to be safe, I bet $300 hoping that someone hit a big flush.... Scott calls and Ed folds. Who would have thunk it! Ed, not drawing to a flush! I show the nut straight flush and Scott flopped two pair, 8's and 7's.
I went on to win the event beating Scott with a medium Ace when he pushed all in with J, 9.
Big Hands on the Boat!
There were a couple of very "sweet" hands on the boat that warrant mentioning..... none would probably work as well anywhere but in "donkeydom"......
At any rate, I'm in the big blind and the entire table limps. It's against my nature to permit that even in a limit game so after trying to get the UTG guy to straddle unsuccessfully, I bump it up $2 with the 4d, 5d. Everyone calls... LOL. The flop is 5h, 5s, 4c...... Sweet! I love it when that happens. At any rate, the small blind checks and of course I bet and there are 7 callers. The turn is a 9c. The small blind checks and I bet $4..... whee! There are a couple of callers and a particularly annoying guy raises me from late position. There's one caller and the small blind folds so I call and the other guys call as well. The river is the 2c so I lead out with a $4 bet and one of the original callers raises. The original raiser in late position raises and I re-raise. The guy in late position (the annoying one) re-raises the capper and all call. The annoying guy hit his gut shot wheel turning over the Ah, 3c. The other raiser hit his flush and I took down one of the biggest pots of the day with the boat, 5's full of 4's.
The other hand where I got some action happened at the same sitting about an hour later..... I am on the button and have pocket 4's. I normally don't raise a lot pre-flop with small pocket pairs, but this is limit! At any rate, everyone calls and the flop comes 9h, 7c, 4s.... Whee! The big blind bets and there are a couple of callers and I raise to $4. The big blind and all the other donkeys call. The turn is case 4c! The big blind bets and a couple callers and I re-raise and all call. As the dealers is flipping the river, I am certain that there has to be someone at the table who can hear me "willing" an ACE to hit and sure enough.... the Ace of clubs hits! The big blind bets and there are 2 re-raises before it gets to me..... LOL. So I could have capped it, but I thought that it would make a better blog to let them cap it for me and sure enough, they did! There was a 9's full of 4's full house... he came in 2nd! A 10 high flush, he came in 3rd and Ah, Qc two pair that received honorable mention.... but I dragged the pot with my quads! And I couldn't believe it but none of them had never heard ..... "Get the Monkey!" before.... LOL.
I know, Rick, I sucked out on the guy with the 9's full..... What would you have done?
At any rate, I'm in the big blind and the entire table limps. It's against my nature to permit that even in a limit game so after trying to get the UTG guy to straddle unsuccessfully, I bump it up $2 with the 4d, 5d. Everyone calls... LOL. The flop is 5h, 5s, 4c...... Sweet! I love it when that happens. At any rate, the small blind checks and of course I bet and there are 7 callers. The turn is a 9c. The small blind checks and I bet $4..... whee! There are a couple of callers and a particularly annoying guy raises me from late position. There's one caller and the small blind folds so I call and the other guys call as well. The river is the 2c so I lead out with a $4 bet and one of the original callers raises. The original raiser in late position raises and I re-raise. The guy in late position (the annoying one) re-raises the capper and all call. The annoying guy hit his gut shot wheel turning over the Ah, 3c. The other raiser hit his flush and I took down one of the biggest pots of the day with the boat, 5's full of 4's.
The other hand where I got some action happened at the same sitting about an hour later..... I am on the button and have pocket 4's. I normally don't raise a lot pre-flop with small pocket pairs, but this is limit! At any rate, everyone calls and the flop comes 9h, 7c, 4s.... Whee! The big blind bets and there are a couple of callers and I raise to $4. The big blind and all the other donkeys call. The turn is case 4c! The big blind bets and a couple callers and I re-raise and all call. As the dealers is flipping the river, I am certain that there has to be someone at the table who can hear me "willing" an ACE to hit and sure enough.... the Ace of clubs hits! The big blind bets and there are 2 re-raises before it gets to me..... LOL. So I could have capped it, but I thought that it would make a better blog to let them cap it for me and sure enough, they did! There was a 9's full of 4's full house... he came in 2nd! A 10 high flush, he came in 3rd and Ah, Qc two pair that received honorable mention.... but I dragged the pot with my quads! And I couldn't believe it but none of them had never heard ..... "Get the Monkey!" before.... LOL.
I know, Rick, I sucked out on the guy with the 9's full..... What would you have done?
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Carnival Cruise - Celebration!
Well, I'm back and we had a fantastic time.... the poker however was a little suspect! They advertise their cruise lines as the FUN SHIPS and they were.... but I wouldn't sign up just for the poker. They had two Hold 'em tables stuffed over in the corner just outside the Casino. The games, either $2/$4 Limit or $3/$6 Limit based on the table preference and I never could get them above the $2/$4 game. The house rake should be spelled with a "p" and not a "k." They were pulling $1 on $10 up to a maximum of $5 being raked. Minimum buy-in of $20 for the $2/$4 and (theoretically) $30 on the $3/$6. So basically it was a table full of donkeys all day every day. And if you do the math, everytime a guy sits down with $20, the house takes that in rakes every 5 hands. LOL. Nice!
The ship was great! The staff was great! The food was great! The weather was great... but the Hold 'em sucked.
I did play and I won everytime I played which was amazing considering the suck-outs that went on at the table..... I'll tell you about them in a little later post, but it was a great cruise and we had a great time, but don't schedule it just to play poker.
The ship was great! The staff was great! The food was great! The weather was great... but the Hold 'em sucked.
I did play and I won everytime I played which was amazing considering the suck-outs that went on at the table..... I'll tell you about them in a little later post, but it was a great cruise and we had a great time, but don't schedule it just to play poker.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Countries of Origin Quiz
Poker has truly become an international game. Unless you’ve been living in a cave during the poker boom of the past few years, you know that Gus “Great Dane” Hansen is from Denmark, Johnny Chan is from China, and Daniel Negreanu is from The Great White North. Can you place the following poker players with their countries of origin? Careful, a few are tricky!
Note that there are 20 players and only 18 countries. Two different pairs of players share the same country; it’s up to you to determine which countries. Good luck! (Answers at bottom of column)
Players
1. Andrew Black
2. Antonio Esfandiari
3. Barney Boatman
4. Carlos Mortensen
5. Dave Colclough
6. Eli Elezra
7. Gavin Smith
8. Hasan Habib
9. Humberto Brenes
10. John Juanda
11. Joseph Hachem
12. Kirill Gerasimov
13. Marcel Luske
14. Martin de Knijff
15. Max Pescatori
16. Men Nguyen
17. Phil Laak
18. Sam Farha
19. Tuan Le
20. Victor Ramdin
Countries
A. Canada
B. Costa Rica
C. England
D. Ecuador
E. France
F. Guyana
G. Indonesia
H. Iran
I. Ireland
J. Israel
K. Italy
L. Lebanon
M. Netherlands
N. Pakistan
O. Russia
P. Sweden
Q. Vietnam
R. Wales
Answers
1I, 2H, 3C, 4D, 5R, 6J, 7A, 8N, 9B, 10G, 11L, 12O, 13M, 14P, 15K, 16Q, 17I, 18L, 19E, 20F
Results
0-4 Correct Geographically challenged, to say the least. You do know the Earth is round, don’t you?
5-8 Wow, you must really suck at Risk™. You regularly get lost while walking around the block.
9-12 You can make it across town, but only after stopping for directions a few times.
13-16 Not bad. You probably have Mapquest saved to your “Favorites” folder.
17-20 Quite the world traveler! Chances are you have a pocket GPS system. Well…either that, or you’re just another cheating bastard!
See ya at the tables…
Rick
Note that there are 20 players and only 18 countries. Two different pairs of players share the same country; it’s up to you to determine which countries. Good luck! (Answers at bottom of column)
Players
1. Andrew Black
2. Antonio Esfandiari
3. Barney Boatman
4. Carlos Mortensen
5. Dave Colclough
6. Eli Elezra
7. Gavin Smith
8. Hasan Habib
9. Humberto Brenes
10. John Juanda
11. Joseph Hachem
12. Kirill Gerasimov
13. Marcel Luske
14. Martin de Knijff
15. Max Pescatori
16. Men Nguyen
17. Phil Laak
18. Sam Farha
19. Tuan Le
20. Victor Ramdin
Countries
A. Canada
B. Costa Rica
C. England
D. Ecuador
E. France
F. Guyana
G. Indonesia
H. Iran
I. Ireland
J. Israel
K. Italy
L. Lebanon
M. Netherlands
N. Pakistan
O. Russia
P. Sweden
Q. Vietnam
R. Wales
Answers
1I, 2H, 3C, 4D, 5R, 6J, 7A, 8N, 9B, 10G, 11L, 12O, 13M, 14P, 15K, 16Q, 17I, 18L, 19E, 20F
Results
0-4 Correct Geographically challenged, to say the least. You do know the Earth is round, don’t you?
5-8 Wow, you must really suck at Risk™. You regularly get lost while walking around the block.
9-12 You can make it across town, but only after stopping for directions a few times.
13-16 Not bad. You probably have Mapquest saved to your “Favorites” folder.
17-20 Quite the world traveler! Chances are you have a pocket GPS system. Well…either that, or you’re just another cheating bastard!
See ya at the tables…
Rick
Monday, August 07, 2006
Regency Park Game on Friday Night
OK...so I'm playing 2/5 Friday night and find J-8 of clubs on the button and min raise to see if there were any monster limpers seeing how everyone was in this hand so far. No one re-raised me which told me there were no big pocket pairs out there so we saw a flop with 9 people. To my delight the flop comes 9-10 of clubs and the 7 of hearts. Now I am really hoping someone out there had a pocket pair of 7's 8's or 10's. The first two players check, the next player bets out $30 two guys fold and another guy smooth calls (we'll call this guy Bill), I am almost certain "Bill" has a set and is trying to be tricky. I put the first guy on something like A-10. It gets to me with about $100 in the pot and I decide to push a bit and find out how strong these guys are. I make it a flat $125 to go. I feel one of them will fold but thats not the case, the both call. The turn is the sweetest card I have seen in a while, the Q of clubs giving me the straight flush....err the nuts. The first guy to act checks, "Bill" bets $200 and I smooth call, first guy to act folds. The river is another 10 and surely this had to hit Bill right between the eyes. I am hoping he has a boat now. Action is to Bill and he starts hollywooding, after a min or two he best $200. Action is to me and Bill has another $700 in front of him that has my name on it. I make it $500, he immediatly goes all in for his remaining chips and before the last sylable comes out of his mouth I say call and flip over the nuts. He in fact boated up and what a hand that was.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Sunday PKR Tourney....
We played a winner-take-all tournament! $80, no re-buys, no add-ons, what it is is what it is! LOL. At any rate, I'm on the button first hand and pick up Qs, 10s which is pretty good 4 handed... I think. I raise the $25/$50 blinds to $150 and Elvie raises $150 and since I'm in position, I call. The flop is magical.... 8d, 9s, Jd. Elvie was first to act and he bets $500 and I raise all-in. Just in case he is trying to hit a diamond flush. Damn it Jim.... he folds and turns over As, Ks. He broke the fishing line and swam under a log. LOL.
Within 3o minutes, George, who has lost a good portion of his chips to me when we both had two pair, calls an all-in by Larry pre-flop. George has AJos and Larry has AA and they hold up.
George barely gets out the door when I call $100 blind from the small blind with 7h, 9h. There are no raises and the flop comes 9s, 9d, 7c. Sweet.... if only I were in better position. I do slow play and check my first option. Larry bets $300 and Elvie and I both call. The turn is the 4c and I check again. Larry checks and Elvie bets $500 and I just smooth call. Larry raises it $1,000 which almost puts Elvie all-in, but he calls anyway. I re-raise all-in for another $2700 and they both call. Larry only has about $250 left over. He turns over a 9c and a 3d and Elvie doesn't show but he is on a flush draw of some sort and drawing dead. The river is a 10 and Elvie is out and Larry only has a couple hundred left.
I push a couple of times and he folds but he raises all-in with the 6h, 10h and I've got him dominated with the Ac, 10s and my hand holds up! Nice.... And in less than 45 minutes!
Off to the Carnival Cruise lines...... and hopefully, back to the felt!
Within 3o minutes, George, who has lost a good portion of his chips to me when we both had two pair, calls an all-in by Larry pre-flop. George has AJos and Larry has AA and they hold up.
George barely gets out the door when I call $100 blind from the small blind with 7h, 9h. There are no raises and the flop comes 9s, 9d, 7c. Sweet.... if only I were in better position. I do slow play and check my first option. Larry bets $300 and Elvie and I both call. The turn is the 4c and I check again. Larry checks and Elvie bets $500 and I just smooth call. Larry raises it $1,000 which almost puts Elvie all-in, but he calls anyway. I re-raise all-in for another $2700 and they both call. Larry only has about $250 left over. He turns over a 9c and a 3d and Elvie doesn't show but he is on a flush draw of some sort and drawing dead. The river is a 10 and Elvie is out and Larry only has a couple hundred left.
I push a couple of times and he folds but he raises all-in with the 6h, 10h and I've got him dominated with the Ac, 10s and my hand holds up! Nice.... And in less than 45 minutes!
Off to the Carnival Cruise lines...... and hopefully, back to the felt!
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Saturday PKR Tourney....
Well, I was feeling pretty good on the way to PKR today having played a few 1 table tourneys online and won 1 and took 2nd in the other.
I drew Table 1 which appeared to be the one MINUS the action until Jason sat down with us.... I'm in late position with 9h, 10h and raise the $25/$50 blind our first hand to $150 and there are 3 callers including Jason. The flop is 6h, 8s, Jc. Everyone checks to me and I bet $225 and Jason calls everyone else folds. The turn is the Qh and Jason moves all in and I immediately call with the nut straight. He flips over pocket 8s...... Slow playing does not always pay off as I will find out later in the day.... LOL.
Just a couple of hands later.... I've got Kh, Kd and raise the $50/$100 blinds to $300 and Jason immediately raises another $1,000 and gets one caller. I push all in and the both call. Jason has 6h, 8h and X has Ac, 10h. The flop is A, 8, 4.... and the turn a 6 and the river another 8. Jason takes the main pot with a full-house, 8s full of 6s and X wins the side pot with two pair Aces and Eights!
Then I'm in late position with As, Ks.... just a beautiful hand! I raise the $100/$200 blinds to $800 and Jason and Carl call. The flop is 8h, 7s, 2c and Jason raises $600, Carl calls and I don't want to mess around with this since they both don't have a lot of chips. I push all in and Jason calls. He turns over the 6h, 3d and the turn is a 10 and river pairs his 3! LOL. Nice......
Another early hand that I tripled up with was the Ah, 8h in late position. I just limp in and there are 4 other players. The flop is Ac, 8d, 2h and Carl leads out with $1,000 and gets one caller. I move all in with the top 2 and everyone folds to Carl who calls and turns over pocket deuces. I guess I'm rolling good today as I catch an 8 on the river to beat him with a higher full house.
When we finally broke down to 1 table, I had $14,300 in chips which at the time was roughly the average chip stack. Our first or second hand, I am the big blind with the 9d, 4d and just check my option. The flop is 9h, 9s, Jd.... I'd say that hit me pretty good. X bets $1200 and I smooth call. The turn is an Ace.... actually just what I was hoping for.... and he bets $2500 and I call. The river was the fourth 9.... sweet! Get the monkey! He bets $3,000 and I raise $3,000 and he mucks. Of course, Rick says.... "Get the Monkey!" And to be kind, I flip over the quads.....
I get sucked out on by JackZ which really short-stacked me. It's so unlike him..... I don't even want to talk about that hand.... Thanks Jeffrey! LOL.
When we get to 3 handed, Lenny knocked Jack out whenever Jack moved all in with nothing and Lenny turned over the top pair, Kings with a Jack kicker and hit trips on the river. Lenny probably had $50,000 or so in chips to my $20,000. About our 3rd hand in, I get pocket Kings and slow play them in the big blind. The flop is 3h, 5d, 6s and Lenny checks. I bet $10,000 into the $12,000 pot and he moves all in. I call as I believe that this is exactly what I was hoping for was for him to have a soft Ace and hit the under on the flop. OOOoooops. I call and he turns over the 2h, 4d. He flopped the 2nd nut straight and I'm drawing dead to win the pot and can only aspire to tie if the board makes a straight. No such luck.
2nd ..... but it was good enough to put me far enough in front for the points on the season so that if I have to miss next week due to the cruise, it'll be OK.
So there you go.....
I drew Table 1 which appeared to be the one MINUS the action until Jason sat down with us.... I'm in late position with 9h, 10h and raise the $25/$50 blind our first hand to $150 and there are 3 callers including Jason. The flop is 6h, 8s, Jc. Everyone checks to me and I bet $225 and Jason calls everyone else folds. The turn is the Qh and Jason moves all in and I immediately call with the nut straight. He flips over pocket 8s...... Slow playing does not always pay off as I will find out later in the day.... LOL.
Just a couple of hands later.... I've got Kh, Kd and raise the $50/$100 blinds to $300 and Jason immediately raises another $1,000 and gets one caller. I push all in and the both call. Jason has 6h, 8h and X has Ac, 10h. The flop is A, 8, 4.... and the turn a 6 and the river another 8. Jason takes the main pot with a full-house, 8s full of 6s and X wins the side pot with two pair Aces and Eights!
Then I'm in late position with As, Ks.... just a beautiful hand! I raise the $100/$200 blinds to $800 and Jason and Carl call. The flop is 8h, 7s, 2c and Jason raises $600, Carl calls and I don't want to mess around with this since they both don't have a lot of chips. I push all in and Jason calls. He turns over the 6h, 3d and the turn is a 10 and river pairs his 3! LOL. Nice......
Another early hand that I tripled up with was the Ah, 8h in late position. I just limp in and there are 4 other players. The flop is Ac, 8d, 2h and Carl leads out with $1,000 and gets one caller. I move all in with the top 2 and everyone folds to Carl who calls and turns over pocket deuces. I guess I'm rolling good today as I catch an 8 on the river to beat him with a higher full house.
When we finally broke down to 1 table, I had $14,300 in chips which at the time was roughly the average chip stack. Our first or second hand, I am the big blind with the 9d, 4d and just check my option. The flop is 9h, 9s, Jd.... I'd say that hit me pretty good. X bets $1200 and I smooth call. The turn is an Ace.... actually just what I was hoping for.... and he bets $2500 and I call. The river was the fourth 9.... sweet! Get the monkey! He bets $3,000 and I raise $3,000 and he mucks. Of course, Rick says.... "Get the Monkey!" And to be kind, I flip over the quads.....
I get sucked out on by JackZ which really short-stacked me. It's so unlike him..... I don't even want to talk about that hand.... Thanks Jeffrey! LOL.
When we get to 3 handed, Lenny knocked Jack out whenever Jack moved all in with nothing and Lenny turned over the top pair, Kings with a Jack kicker and hit trips on the river. Lenny probably had $50,000 or so in chips to my $20,000. About our 3rd hand in, I get pocket Kings and slow play them in the big blind. The flop is 3h, 5d, 6s and Lenny checks. I bet $10,000 into the $12,000 pot and he moves all in. I call as I believe that this is exactly what I was hoping for was for him to have a soft Ace and hit the under on the flop. OOOoooops. I call and he turns over the 2h, 4d. He flopped the 2nd nut straight and I'm drawing dead to win the pot and can only aspire to tie if the board makes a straight. No such luck.
2nd ..... but it was good enough to put me far enough in front for the points on the season so that if I have to miss next week due to the cruise, it'll be OK.
So there you go.....
WSOP Nicknames
Looking through the leaderboard going into today's main event action, I noticed that Card Player neglected to list the nicknames of the remaining players. Being the good samaritan that I am, I thought I would lend them a helping hand. Here are the nicknames (well if not, they should be...) of some of the players still fighting for the bracelet, with their current standing:
1 Jon "Penny" Lane
4 David "Big League" Chiu
7 Lars "Male" Bonding
8 Thomas "Yoko Brought A" Wahlroos
11 Eric "Merrill" Lynch
12 Andras "Rotting" Karkus
21 Mitch "Culture" Schock
26 Theodore "MacArthur" Park
33 Elie "'Nuff" Said
36 Cheng "Screw" Yu
49 Andres "Can 'O" Korn
66 Siddharth "Mary" Jain
86 Michael "Kitty" Katz
87 Robert "Place Your" Betts
88 Max "Keepin' It" Reele
90 Darryl "Double" Dare
91 Brady "The Lord Is My" Shepard
100 Erik "Meat" Loeff
104 Lee "Supreme" Kort
107 George "Tiny" Danzer
110 Martin "Blessed" Virgen
112 Kevin "I.P." Daly
114 Reza "Quick" Zand
128 David "Earth" Angel
130 Justin "Baseball" Diamond
137 Paramjit "Blue" Gill
141 Jordan "Filthy" Rich
168 Paul "Dr." Seus
177 Derek "Arthritis" Payne
180 Johan "Chicken" Koops
219 Lawrence "Small" Frye
221 Scott "Lord" Byron
229 Michael "Whatsyer" Hurey
239 Batnes "Door" Mats
241 Alan "I Sucks" Sass
246 William "Blueberry" Hill
253 Peter "Skid" Rho
255 Randall "Dim" Witt
271 Daniel "Vlassic" Pickle
293 Paul "Char" Coles
311 Josh "Premature" Newborn
312 Johnny "Dirty" Sanchez
333 Russell "Big Red" Barnes
336 Leif "Magnum" Force
348 Casey "White" Kastle
354 Thomas "Kootchy" Koo
357 Rob "Northern" Ireland
369 Aaron "Right" Gard
370 Joseph "Colonel" Sanders
375 David "Well" Hong
382 Ted "Sherwood" Forrest
387 Stephen "Rolling" Boyle
391 Tony "Aint Life" Grand
395 Chris "Broke" Back
399 Chris "Curious" George
401 Ron "Holy" Toledo
406 Leland "Big Bad" Wulff
438 Ken "Oscar Meyer" Weiner
456 Jason "Boy Named" Su
457 Cyndy "Shrinking" Violette
Good luck to all of them!
See ya at the tables...
Rick
1 Jon "Penny" Lane
4 David "Big League" Chiu
7 Lars "Male" Bonding
8 Thomas "Yoko Brought A" Wahlroos
11 Eric "Merrill" Lynch
12 Andras "Rotting" Karkus
21 Mitch "Culture" Schock
26 Theodore "MacArthur" Park
33 Elie "'Nuff" Said
36 Cheng "Screw" Yu
49 Andres "Can 'O" Korn
66 Siddharth "Mary" Jain
86 Michael "Kitty" Katz
87 Robert "Place Your" Betts
88 Max "Keepin' It" Reele
90 Darryl "Double" Dare
91 Brady "The Lord Is My" Shepard
100 Erik "Meat" Loeff
104 Lee "Supreme" Kort
107 George "Tiny" Danzer
110 Martin "Blessed" Virgen
112 Kevin "I.P." Daly
114 Reza "Quick" Zand
128 David "Earth" Angel
130 Justin "Baseball" Diamond
137 Paramjit "Blue" Gill
141 Jordan "Filthy" Rich
168 Paul "Dr." Seus
177 Derek "Arthritis" Payne
180 Johan "Chicken" Koops
219 Lawrence "Small" Frye
221 Scott "Lord" Byron
229 Michael "Whatsyer" Hurey
239 Batnes "Door" Mats
241 Alan "I Sucks" Sass
246 William "Blueberry" Hill
253 Peter "Skid" Rho
255 Randall "Dim" Witt
271 Daniel "Vlassic" Pickle
293 Paul "Char" Coles
311 Josh "Premature" Newborn
312 Johnny "Dirty" Sanchez
333 Russell "Big Red" Barnes
336 Leif "Magnum" Force
348 Casey "White" Kastle
354 Thomas "Kootchy" Koo
357 Rob "Northern" Ireland
369 Aaron "Right" Gard
370 Joseph "Colonel" Sanders
375 David "Well" Hong
382 Ted "Sherwood" Forrest
387 Stephen "Rolling" Boyle
391 Tony "Aint Life" Grand
395 Chris "Broke" Back
399 Chris "Curious" George
401 Ron "Holy" Toledo
406 Leland "Big Bad" Wulff
438 Ken "Oscar Meyer" Weiner
456 Jason "Boy Named" Su
457 Cyndy "Shrinking" Violette
Good luck to all of them!
See ya at the tables...
Rick
Friday, August 04, 2006
Nickname Quiz
Grinder, The Mouth, Texas Dolly, Jesus, Devilfish, Unabomber... Even casual players that catch the occasional episode of the WPT know these nicknames. Let’s test your knowledge with some lesser known nicknames and see if you’re a real poker fan. Match the following players with their nicknames (answers at end of column):
Names
1. David Pham
2. Doug Lee
3. Gavin Smith
4. Joe Beevers
5. Joe Cassidy
6. John Hennigan
7. John Juanda
8. John Phan
9. Ken Flaton
10. Kido Pham
11. Mike Caro
12. Paul Darden
13. Paul Phillips
14. Randy Jensen
15. Steve Zolotow
16. Thomas Keller
Nicknames
A. Bald Eagle
B. Birdguts
C. Canadian Superbomber
D. Dot Com
E. Dragon
F. Dream Crusher
G. Freeroll
H. Luckbox
I. Mad Genius
J. Razor
K. Sheriff
L. Skyhawk
M. The Elegance
N. The Truth
O. Thunder
P. World
Answers
1E, 2C, 3B, 4M, 5K, 6P, 7H, 8J, 9L, 10G, 11I, 12N, 13D, 14F, 15A, 16O
Results
0-4 You call yourself a poker player?!
5-8 Dude, you need to watch more poker on TV
9-11 Not bad - you have something to add to the poker table conversation.
12-14 Impressive - you keep up with the poker scene!
15-16 Dude, you’re watching way too much poker on TV – Get a life!
See ya at the tables...
Rick
Names
1. David Pham
2. Doug Lee
3. Gavin Smith
4. Joe Beevers
5. Joe Cassidy
6. John Hennigan
7. John Juanda
8. John Phan
9. Ken Flaton
10. Kido Pham
11. Mike Caro
12. Paul Darden
13. Paul Phillips
14. Randy Jensen
15. Steve Zolotow
16. Thomas Keller
Nicknames
A. Bald Eagle
B. Birdguts
C. Canadian Superbomber
D. Dot Com
E. Dragon
F. Dream Crusher
G. Freeroll
H. Luckbox
I. Mad Genius
J. Razor
K. Sheriff
L. Skyhawk
M. The Elegance
N. The Truth
O. Thunder
P. World
Answers
1E, 2C, 3B, 4M, 5K, 6P, 7H, 8J, 9L, 10G, 11I, 12N, 13D, 14F, 15A, 16O
Results
0-4 You call yourself a poker player?!
5-8 Dude, you need to watch more poker on TV
9-11 Not bad - you have something to add to the poker table conversation.
12-14 Impressive - you keep up with the poker scene!
15-16 Dude, you’re watching way too much poker on TV – Get a life!
See ya at the tables...
Rick
Still Alive at the WSOP....
From Day 2A....
140 Phil Ivey 20,000
133 Lane Flack 25,000
122 David Grey 45,000
107 Hoyt Corkins 58,000
105 Chris Ferguson 60,000
92 Annie Duke 73,000
84 Carlos Mortensen 82,500
79 Kevin Brown 84,000 (Could this be our Kevin that used to work with Joe and Jeffrey?)
70 David Pham 95,000
62 George Lopez 104,000 (Not... the George Lopez?)
57 Humberto Brenes 110,000
26 Allen Cunningham 172,000
10 Eric Molina 220,000
10 Bill Gustafik 220,000
9 Matthew Maroon 230,000
8 Justin Holmes 235,000
7 Joe Fuhriman 280,000
4 Michael Lynn 290,000
4 Paul Wasicka 290,000
4 Matt Woodward 290,000
3 Jason Strasser 330,000 (Durham boy)
2 Ken Jacobs 395,000
1 Jon Lane 405,000
So there you go.... for the rest of them, please check out www.cardplayer.com -
Back to the felt!
140 Phil Ivey 20,000
133 Lane Flack 25,000
122 David Grey 45,000
107 Hoyt Corkins 58,000
105 Chris Ferguson 60,000
92 Annie Duke 73,000
84 Carlos Mortensen 82,500
79 Kevin Brown 84,000 (Could this be our Kevin that used to work with Joe and Jeffrey?)
70 David Pham 95,000
62 George Lopez 104,000 (Not... the George Lopez?)
57 Humberto Brenes 110,000
26 Allen Cunningham 172,000
10 Eric Molina 220,000
10 Bill Gustafik 220,000
9 Matthew Maroon 230,000
8 Justin Holmes 235,000
7 Joe Fuhriman 280,000
4 Michael Lynn 290,000
4 Paul Wasicka 290,000
4 Matt Woodward 290,000
3 Jason Strasser 330,000 (Durham boy)
2 Ken Jacobs 395,000
1 Jon Lane 405,000
So there you go.... for the rest of them, please check out www.cardplayer.com -
Back to the felt!
Still Alive at the WSOP....
There are some big names still alive at the close of day 2B! I was unable to find a complete list of remaining players and all the information surrounding the available lists sounds as if they may be incomplete. There's approximately 1200 remaining as they start play today at noon. But here's a few names that I have been able to find that still have a chip and a chair..... These are the Day 2B Leaders.... (Thanks, Rick)....
112 Benny Binion 19,000
92 Kathy Liebert 55,000
82 Freddy Deeb 58,000
78 Cecilia Mortensen 60,000
74 Nam Le 63,000
69 Minh Nguyen 72,500
62 Josh Arieh 82,000
60 Cindy Violette 85,000
40 Ted Forrest 125,000
30 Joseph Hachem 142,200
13 William Thorsson 195,000
12 Daniel Heimiller 200,000
11 Jeff Cabanillas 210,000
10 Bradford Davenport 220,000
9 Alex Balandin 237,000
8 Jon Finkel 240,000
7 Dario Mineri 246,000
6 Michael Binger 254,000
5 Philippe Boucher 305,000
4 Terris Preston 310,000
3 Daniel Negreanu 331,000
2 Daniel Pelletier 335,000
1 Dmitri Nobles 553,000
The payouts have been published as well. The winner will cart out $12,000,000... Yep, TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS! They will pay out through the top 873 players with the bottom check $14,597! 2nd place only gets $6,102,499! And the final 12 players will all receive in excess of ONE MILLION DOLLARS!
It appears that the best updates are still at cardplayer.com - They took a day off yesterday and resume play today at noon when blinds will be $600/$1200 with $200 ante. There'll be over 1200 players remaining when play resumes. The remaining schedule looks like this:
8/4 ABCD Play down to 600
8/5 Play 600 down to 300
8/6 Play 300 down to 150
8/7 Play 150 down to 60
8/8 Play 60 down to 27
8/9 Play 27 down to 9
8/10 **** FINAL TABLE ****
I've got to be there next year!
112 Benny Binion 19,000
92 Kathy Liebert 55,000
82 Freddy Deeb 58,000
78 Cecilia Mortensen 60,000
74 Nam Le 63,000
69 Minh Nguyen 72,500
62 Josh Arieh 82,000
60 Cindy Violette 85,000
40 Ted Forrest 125,000
30 Joseph Hachem 142,200
13 William Thorsson 195,000
12 Daniel Heimiller 200,000
11 Jeff Cabanillas 210,000
10 Bradford Davenport 220,000
9 Alex Balandin 237,000
8 Jon Finkel 240,000
7 Dario Mineri 246,000
6 Michael Binger 254,000
5 Philippe Boucher 305,000
4 Terris Preston 310,000
3 Daniel Negreanu 331,000
2 Daniel Pelletier 335,000
1 Dmitri Nobles 553,000
The payouts have been published as well. The winner will cart out $12,000,000... Yep, TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS! They will pay out through the top 873 players with the bottom check $14,597! 2nd place only gets $6,102,499! And the final 12 players will all receive in excess of ONE MILLION DOLLARS!
It appears that the best updates are still at cardplayer.com - They took a day off yesterday and resume play today at noon when blinds will be $600/$1200 with $200 ante. There'll be over 1200 players remaining when play resumes. The remaining schedule looks like this:
8/4 ABCD Play down to 600
8/5 Play 600 down to 300
8/6 Play 300 down to 150
8/7 Play 150 down to 60
8/8 Play 60 down to 27
8/9 Play 27 down to 9
8/10 **** FINAL TABLE ****
I've got to be there next year!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Raleigh Poker Meetup Group Back in Action
After much time and deliberation over whether to continue with the website, Jeffrey has decided to pump up the volume! I like it! He's got the site back up and running and some plans for some poker tournaments starting the end of August! Nice!
Here's the link.... please visit and join as I think that this might be a great opportunity to meet others in Raleigh who are interested in tourneys and ring games.
Here you go... Sign up Today!
The Raleigh Poker Meetup Group
http://poker.meetup.com/889/
Here's the link.... please visit and join as I think that this might be a great opportunity to meet others in Raleigh who are interested in tourneys and ring games.
Here you go... Sign up Today!
The Raleigh Poker Meetup Group
http://poker.meetup.com/889/
I Sure Would Like to Post a "Great Hand", but....
For me, great hands are rarer than finding a $50 whore without open sores....anyway.
Tournament play, UTG I look down at the Hilton Sisters. This is a very aggressive table so I just limp in knowing there will be raises. Lots of callers, the button raises (as they should with just about any two cards in this situation) , the SB folds, the BB reraises. I immediately push all in.
SB calls, BB (who is the big stack) calls. I'm feeling really good when I flip over my queens, until the Button shows cowboys and the BB turns over rockets. Umm..ok I'm screwed.
Flop comes A,K, 10. Just to rub it in, they trip up. Wait, I just need a J for the straight and I can fuck 'em both up. Yeah...no. I'm out.
Raise The Hammer, Biatches.
Your donkey in heat,
Big Slick, Sergio
Surgesilk aka Jeff aka the human ATM
Tournament play, UTG I look down at the Hilton Sisters. This is a very aggressive table so I just limp in knowing there will be raises. Lots of callers, the button raises (as they should with just about any two cards in this situation) , the SB folds, the BB reraises. I immediately push all in.
SB calls, BB (who is the big stack) calls. I'm feeling really good when I flip over my queens, until the Button shows cowboys and the BB turns over rockets. Umm..ok I'm screwed.
Flop comes A,K, 10. Just to rub it in, they trip up. Wait, I just need a J for the straight and I can fuck 'em both up. Yeah...no. I'm out.
Raise The Hammer, Biatches.
Your donkey in heat,
Big Slick, Sergio
Surgesilk aka Jeff aka the human ATM
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
The Juice's Nice Guy List from the WSOP.....
Dave got to meet several of the "celebrity" players at the main event.... the ones that made the NICE GUY list are:
Greg Raymer - Dave said that he spent about 8-10 minutes just socializing and talking with him about poker in NC and the fact that John S who plays with us occasionally is a guy he plays with fairly regularly online.
Barry Greenstein -
Daniel Negreanu -
Joe Hachem - I am pretty certain that Dave was stalking him.... LOL. He said that they criss-crossed several times in the halls and elevators.
*********************
Entertainers.... He said that he saw Jessica Simpson and Pamela Anderson! Nice!
Thanks Dave, but BLOGGING really isn't difficult... you should try it!
Greg Raymer - Dave said that he spent about 8-10 minutes just socializing and talking with him about poker in NC and the fact that John S who plays with us occasionally is a guy he plays with fairly regularly online.
Barry Greenstein -
Daniel Negreanu -
Joe Hachem - I am pretty certain that Dave was stalking him.... LOL. He said that they criss-crossed several times in the halls and elevators.
*********************
Entertainers.... He said that he saw Jessica Simpson and Pamela Anderson! Nice!
Thanks Dave, but BLOGGING really isn't difficult... you should try it!
Dave's Donkeydom!
Well, Tuesday night and as usual, things get pretty wild early. I was playing pretty well and had caught a few nice hands but got very few callers. We do have two pretty tight players at table..... Dean (I'll bet on the river..... IF I have the NUTS!) and Randy..... both are the slow rollers of the group. And Randy, not meaning to be spiteful or deceitful slow-rolled me and I got about as upset as I have been at the poker table in a while, but he was very nice about it and I got over it. Dave did slow-roll quads against Dean last night and seemed to really enjoy it..... heck.... I may try it!
There were a couple of hands of significance.... first of all, I got the monkey in early position and waited on someone to bet.... nothing! Quad Kinds waisted.... Nice.... Then a fairly significant hand occured between me and Jim.... one of my favorite people over there and one of the funniest guys that I know. He has signed up to BLOG with us but is having MAC issues.... LOL. At any rate, I've got 6c, 4c, Ad, 2d and the flop is the 6h, 4c, 3c.... Jim is in first positon and bets $22 and Dave, the Juice calls and of course Bill calls and I call.... the turn is 8s and Jim bets $40, Dave folds and Bill calls and I call... The river is my magic card.... the 6d. Jim immediately pushes all in for about $140 or so and everyone folds to me and I call as quickly as I can with the boat and the nut low.... He turns over the 6s, 4d with a no low so I get 3/4 of the pot and half of his all-in chips in front of him.... Nice!
The other big hand of the night came against Dave... go figure! I've got the 6d, 4d, 8h, 3h and the flop comes 2c, 5h, 6s. Dave bets $20 and I raise to $50 and he is the only caller. The turn is the 4d and Dave bets $100. I am trying to figure out what he is betting. Could he have the 7, 8? Could he be on the club flush draw? I actually suspected that the 4 hit his gut shot wheel.... LOL. At any rate, its a little bit of a scary board but I call as I am tired, it is late and I'm ready to roll.... The turn is the 7c... Dave checks and I go all-in. He whimpers and whines and shows me his 3, 6 and folds.... I do show him the 6d, 8h making the nut straight draw.... I was so tired and I didn't even notice that the 7c put the flush on the board. I can't believe that he didn't have them..... it's so unlike him..... So that was nice little pot....
Just another night @ Dave's.....
There were a couple of hands of significance.... first of all, I got the monkey in early position and waited on someone to bet.... nothing! Quad Kinds waisted.... Nice.... Then a fairly significant hand occured between me and Jim.... one of my favorite people over there and one of the funniest guys that I know. He has signed up to BLOG with us but is having MAC issues.... LOL. At any rate, I've got 6c, 4c, Ad, 2d and the flop is the 6h, 4c, 3c.... Jim is in first positon and bets $22 and Dave, the Juice calls and of course Bill calls and I call.... the turn is 8s and Jim bets $40, Dave folds and Bill calls and I call... The river is my magic card.... the 6d. Jim immediately pushes all in for about $140 or so and everyone folds to me and I call as quickly as I can with the boat and the nut low.... He turns over the 6s, 4d with a no low so I get 3/4 of the pot and half of his all-in chips in front of him.... Nice!
The other big hand of the night came against Dave... go figure! I've got the 6d, 4d, 8h, 3h and the flop comes 2c, 5h, 6s. Dave bets $20 and I raise to $50 and he is the only caller. The turn is the 4d and Dave bets $100. I am trying to figure out what he is betting. Could he have the 7, 8? Could he be on the club flush draw? I actually suspected that the 4 hit his gut shot wheel.... LOL. At any rate, its a little bit of a scary board but I call as I am tired, it is late and I'm ready to roll.... The turn is the 7c... Dave checks and I go all-in. He whimpers and whines and shows me his 3, 6 and folds.... I do show him the 6d, 8h making the nut straight draw.... I was so tired and I didn't even notice that the 7c put the flush on the board. I can't believe that he didn't have them..... it's so unlike him..... So that was nice little pot....
Just another night @ Dave's.....
The Juice goes to the WSOP!
So old Davey made the trip to "Lost Wages, Nevada" for the WSOP and I understand that neither will ever be the same..... He asked me to BLOG it for him since he is so technologically challenged! I'll try to do this from some quick notes....
Dave's day one began with the Juice playing only quality hands.... I can only assume that means the Q, 3 was suited... LOL. No, he told me that he played only quality hands and very tight all day, 100@ solid, no bluffing. At one point the had accumulated about $19,600 in chips.... The hand that did him came at 9:05PM of his first day. He is in late position with Qh, Jh and calls the $600 blind with about $11,700 in chips. The flop is Ah, Kh, 5h and the big blind bets $600 and Dave raises to $1200 WITH the NUT FLUSH and the Royal Flush re-draw..... Sweet! The big blind pushes all in for about $7,600 and of course Dave calls and I think any of us would call at that point. The big blind turns over AKos and hits the King on the turn. The general consensus of the table was that the guy was an idiot and just got lucky..... But, Dave still has an out.... the old 10h. And I'm sure that he were playing it against me, he would have hit it, but the river was a brick.... The next hand with only about $2300 in chips, he gets AJos and pushes all in and gets a caller with I believe that he said pocket 10's. The board came 6,6,6,4,2.... So the low got there!
The rest of the story is perhaps the best part.... as Dave pushed all-in, he appropriately stood up when he was called and his tournament life was on the line. Once the final card hit, a muffled announcement came over the PA and applause errupted. Dave thought that perhaps the announcer had gotten word that "The Juice" has just busted out and as he looked around, he saw no one else standing up but him and most people applauding and looking in his general direction.... So he gives a royal wave before he looks behind where he was standing to see Doyle Brunson exiting from the tournament having just busted out as well and waving politely to folks applauding.... I hope ESPN got that.....
At any rate, we're glad to have you back..... yep, when Dave left Nevada and came to NC, the average IQ dropped in both states......
Back to the felt!
Dave's day one began with the Juice playing only quality hands.... I can only assume that means the Q, 3 was suited... LOL. No, he told me that he played only quality hands and very tight all day, 100@ solid, no bluffing. At one point the had accumulated about $19,600 in chips.... The hand that did him came at 9:05PM of his first day. He is in late position with Qh, Jh and calls the $600 blind with about $11,700 in chips. The flop is Ah, Kh, 5h and the big blind bets $600 and Dave raises to $1200 WITH the NUT FLUSH and the Royal Flush re-draw..... Sweet! The big blind pushes all in for about $7,600 and of course Dave calls and I think any of us would call at that point. The big blind turns over AKos and hits the King on the turn. The general consensus of the table was that the guy was an idiot and just got lucky..... But, Dave still has an out.... the old 10h. And I'm sure that he were playing it against me, he would have hit it, but the river was a brick.... The next hand with only about $2300 in chips, he gets AJos and pushes all in and gets a caller with I believe that he said pocket 10's. The board came 6,6,6,4,2.... So the low got there!
The rest of the story is perhaps the best part.... as Dave pushed all-in, he appropriately stood up when he was called and his tournament life was on the line. Once the final card hit, a muffled announcement came over the PA and applause errupted. Dave thought that perhaps the announcer had gotten word that "The Juice" has just busted out and as he looked around, he saw no one else standing up but him and most people applauding and looking in his general direction.... So he gives a royal wave before he looks behind where he was standing to see Doyle Brunson exiting from the tournament having just busted out as well and waving politely to folks applauding.... I hope ESPN got that.....
At any rate, we're glad to have you back..... yep, when Dave left Nevada and came to NC, the average IQ dropped in both states......
Back to the felt!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Monday @ PKR....
Well, I went down to play PKR last night. I don't get out much during the week but at the last minute, my son scheduled a trip to local club for teen night with one of his buddies that isn't far from PKR so rather than make 2 trips down there, I decided to drop him off, go play some poker and then pick him up when he's ready to go. I know... it won't be long till he has his driving license. I haven't figured out whether that is a good thing or not.
At any rate, there were several interesting hands..... most involving Eddie and another guy that I don't know his name and Eddie's girl friend. Let's see....
First big hand of the night for me goes something like this.... I've got Ac, 5c in the big blind .... of course, this is $1/$2 no limit. The entire table and two guys that were walking up old Apex Road called so thinking that I would "change up" my play just a little, decided that I would raise to $8 and there are about 5 callers including Eddie who is in the small blind. The flop comes 2c, 3h, 4d..... nice.... Eddie leads out with an $12 bet, I call and there is one other caller.... don't know the guys name, but he is without question, one of the tightest players at the table.... maybe in the world. At any rate, the turn is the Jh. Eddie bets $30 and I decide it's time to make certain that I don't get sucked out on .... "cheaply." So I raise it up to $75 which is about 1/2 of Eddie's remaining chips and my remaining chips. Eddie immediately pushes all in and now I'm wondering if he has the nut straight as I have the second nut. At any rate, I can't get away from it. Eddie turns over the 2h, 4h. And for once, Ed doesn't screw me on the river.
A little while later, Eddie and I get tied up again, I'm the button and he raises to $12. I check my cards and find AA.... I raise another $40 and he pushes all in for about $12 more. He's got pocket nines and flops a 9 and the ace doesn't come for me. Nice!
Just about 2 later laps, I have Jd, 9d on the button and bump it up to $10 straight and there are 4-5 callers including Eddie's girlfriend. The flop is 7d, 10h, Js and she immediately moves all in from early position with $11 and everyone folds to me. I call and turn over my top pair and gut shot straight draw and in true Ed Flush fashion he proceeds to pair her Queen on the turn and it holds up. Nice!
Probably my favorite hand of the night really wasn't much of a hand... the guy that I mentioned that I don't know his name but really don't care much for..... I've got Ac, 8c on the button and he raises to $8 from early position. There are a couple of callers and I call. The flop is 6h, 9c, 10s. He bets $15 and I call everyone else gets out of the way. For some reason, I'm not putting him on anything very strong and the turn is a 2d. He bets $30 and I call. The turn is a 3c (yep, now my flush draw improves... if only there were River/River). He bets $40 and I re-raise $75. He folds and mumbles something about his cards aren't that strong and shows his paired 6. Just to put him on tilt (hopefully), I turn over my cards to reveal no pair, ace high.... Sweet! He turned even whiter than he is normally.....
The next big hand with him was even sweeter.... about 30 minutes later, he's still talking to himself... and he raises my button to $16. I've got Kc, Jc and although I like Kojak, I don't like calling with it as its very possible that I'm dominated. At any rate, it's my buddy raising... right! So I call along with 3 others.... The flop is Kd, Kh, Jd.... how do I say... OOOooops! At any rate, he bets $24 and the tight as a tick guy calls and of course I call.... The turn is a 2d... Sweet! The flush got there..... Goofy bets $40, the other guy folds and re-raise $75. He calls. The river is the 5d... Sweet! He checks and I bet $75 and he folds and turns over his King.... I laugh and show him the Jack. I love this game when it is working right!
Back to the felt!
At any rate, there were several interesting hands..... most involving Eddie and another guy that I don't know his name and Eddie's girl friend. Let's see....
First big hand of the night for me goes something like this.... I've got Ac, 5c in the big blind .... of course, this is $1/$2 no limit. The entire table and two guys that were walking up old Apex Road called so thinking that I would "change up" my play just a little, decided that I would raise to $8 and there are about 5 callers including Eddie who is in the small blind. The flop comes 2c, 3h, 4d..... nice.... Eddie leads out with an $12 bet, I call and there is one other caller.... don't know the guys name, but he is without question, one of the tightest players at the table.... maybe in the world. At any rate, the turn is the Jh. Eddie bets $30 and I decide it's time to make certain that I don't get sucked out on .... "cheaply." So I raise it up to $75 which is about 1/2 of Eddie's remaining chips and my remaining chips. Eddie immediately pushes all in and now I'm wondering if he has the nut straight as I have the second nut. At any rate, I can't get away from it. Eddie turns over the 2h, 4h. And for once, Ed doesn't screw me on the river.
A little while later, Eddie and I get tied up again, I'm the button and he raises to $12. I check my cards and find AA.... I raise another $40 and he pushes all in for about $12 more. He's got pocket nines and flops a 9 and the ace doesn't come for me. Nice!
Just about 2 later laps, I have Jd, 9d on the button and bump it up to $10 straight and there are 4-5 callers including Eddie's girlfriend. The flop is 7d, 10h, Js and she immediately moves all in from early position with $11 and everyone folds to me. I call and turn over my top pair and gut shot straight draw and in true Ed Flush fashion he proceeds to pair her Queen on the turn and it holds up. Nice!
Probably my favorite hand of the night really wasn't much of a hand... the guy that I mentioned that I don't know his name but really don't care much for..... I've got Ac, 8c on the button and he raises to $8 from early position. There are a couple of callers and I call. The flop is 6h, 9c, 10s. He bets $15 and I call everyone else gets out of the way. For some reason, I'm not putting him on anything very strong and the turn is a 2d. He bets $30 and I call. The turn is a 3c (yep, now my flush draw improves... if only there were River/River). He bets $40 and I re-raise $75. He folds and mumbles something about his cards aren't that strong and shows his paired 6. Just to put him on tilt (hopefully), I turn over my cards to reveal no pair, ace high.... Sweet! He turned even whiter than he is normally.....
The next big hand with him was even sweeter.... about 30 minutes later, he's still talking to himself... and he raises my button to $16. I've got Kc, Jc and although I like Kojak, I don't like calling with it as its very possible that I'm dominated. At any rate, it's my buddy raising... right! So I call along with 3 others.... The flop is Kd, Kh, Jd.... how do I say... OOOooops! At any rate, he bets $24 and the tight as a tick guy calls and of course I call.... The turn is a 2d... Sweet! The flush got there..... Goofy bets $40, the other guy folds and re-raise $75. He calls. The river is the 5d... Sweet! He checks and I bet $75 and he folds and turns over his King.... I laugh and show him the Jack. I love this game when it is working right!
Back to the felt!
Poker Memory
I find it interesting how we poker players think we’re always owed something by the poker gods. When we “finally” catch a river card, it’s simply “justice for the last 17 times we got sucked out on…” We seem to always remember the bad beats we take, yet we conveniently forget the hands where we get lucky. I think I’ll coin a new phrase and call that phenomenon poker memory.
(By the way, thank you Charles, for the inspiration. I hope I don’t have to pay you royalties if it catches on and becomes part of the common vernacular…)
See ya at the tables…
Rick
(By the way, thank you Charles, for the inspiration. I hope I don’t have to pay you royalties if it catches on and becomes part of the common vernacular…)
See ya at the tables…
Rick
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